Carroll takes DeMatha for league win

Ron Bailey, Publisher

January 9, 2008 – Last night before in a packed home gym, Archbishop Carroll used a 18-11 run in the second quarter to defeat Washington Catholic Athletic Conference rival DeMatha Catholic (MD) 70-61, thereby securing a 8-4 (4-2 in league) record. Leading the victors and all scorers was senior Kris Joseph (27 points), who was greatly aided by junior Rodney McGruder (17 points) and senior Aleks Mitrovic (8 points).

Facing multiple defenses by DeMatha throughout - including a particularly vexing 2-3 match up zone early on - Carroll exhibited greater patience in the second stanza, which started with them losing 16-15 and going into halftime ahead 33-27; routinely, McGruder and Joseph each would alternate attacking the scheme from the foul line and baseline. When asked where he felt most comfortable in that deployment, McGruder replied “The foul line”, where “they tried to double down at the foul line, and I hit the guards for the open shots. They hit them”.

Kris Joseph (left) and Josh Selby

Mitrovic helped secure the game via several crucial put backs despite chronic foul trouble, including two during a fourth quarter that saw DeMatha chip away a 10 point deficit to six. Regarding his understated yet key contribution, Mitrovic said “I like working hard, so every garbage point I can get is good, and everything I can get in the offense is good too”.

Leading DeMatha’s charge was junior Josh Selby (19 points), along with fellow third-year man Naji Hibbert (14 points). The school is now 7-5 overall, 1-3 in the WCAC.

Afterward, the cerebral Joseph shared of the win, “It really gives us a boost. It gives us confidence. The Ireton win was okay, but after the Gonzaga game (a loss), we knew we had to bounce back. So this win gives us back confidence. It brings our confidence back up to a high. We have to now make sure we don’t get too much out of character, we keep playing hard, keep playing strong”.

His coach, Clinton Perrow, was less sanguine, noting “I had a wise coach in the WCAC once tell me none of the games are major until the playoffs”. It’s not he doesn’t value the competition, but “Everybody is tough, everybody works hard” in his league, with the end result being “This victory is not a statement game”.

Indeed, but last night, his Carroll Lions did earn the right to celebrate, however briefly.

Notes: DeMatha used a number of defenses, including the aforementioned 2-3 match up zone, a 1-3-1 full court zone press, and 1-3-1 half court zone.

Fellow Montreal, Canada natives Joseph and Mitrovic played club ball at home together, thus had a good friendship before playing together at Carroll.

DeMatha’s Kenny Tate, a prized college football recruit, started the game, immediately making his presence known by emphatically blocking a Joseph turnaround shot early in the tilt.

Highlight of the game - With the score standing 51-46, Joseph snagged a defensive rebound around the foul line, dribbled through traffic, and finished with a strong, left handed lay up.

Blake Price, who Perrow noted will be leaned on heavily going forward, scored 10 points and is seemingly growing into his new role as a point guard with some offensive freedom. As a junior, who is getting his first taste of being a large part of the rotation matures, Carroll will be even more formidable.