St. Frances Starts Season in Stride

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Despite lopsided score, Gwynn Park shows hope for future

December 7, 2006 – Last night at St. Frances Academy’s (SFA) eastside Baltimore, MD campus, the home standing Panthers defeated Gwynn Park High School (GP) of Prince Georges County, MD, 92-54. At first blush, many readers may assume the game did nothing for either team, given the lopsided score. Not so, according to the participants.

From the outset, St. Frances got their fast break game going, jumping to creating a 45-25 halftime advantage. Leading the charge was junior Sean Mosley (21 points), senior Aric Brooks (12 points), and sophomore Najee Hibbert (18 points). The trio repeatedly executed textbook fast breaks resulting in uncontested layups.

William Wells (standing), St. Frances' long time coach, is seen here directing his team from the sidelines.

Afterward, Mosley shared his team’s high energy level was a result of the Panthers being “fired up”, and that the fast break game will be a SFA staple this season. “We will play up tempo this year” he shared, “because our team doesn’t have as much size”.

Brooks attributed their full court proficiency and excellent start to excelling “on the defensive boards”, as well as his team’s “defensive intensity”. In sum, he felt “We just got the ball, and went with it”.

That intensity was lauded by SFA assistant coach, Nicholas Myles. “I think the kids played real well today” he said, after the contest. “We played hard”. Myles also noted the Panther’s “effort and athleticism” as a key to the game. He also felt it beneficial the Panthers actually play someone besides themselves, in practice.

During the second half, SFA’s attack continued, but to their credit, Gwynn Park never stopped competing. In fact, until the final bell, GP players such as sophomore Octavius Hinnant (18 points, 6-8 from three point land) were taking charges and diving for loose balls. Senior Sean Thomas (15 points) also played hard throughout.

Mike Glick, formerly of the Baltimore Catholic Leauge's Archbishop Spaulding, took his young Gwynn Park team into St. Frances with teh expectation of improving them.

Mike Glick, in his first year as GP’s head coach, acknowledged that the team is short on experience, as most of his players “never played varsity basketball before”, and ran into a SFA team stacked with experienced, athletic players. That last fact, actually drew him to Baltimore. “I want to play the best” he stated, as in doing so, believes, “When February comes, we will be a much better team”.

Overall, SFA’s 27 year head coach, William Wells, was pleased with his team first unit, but not necessarily the backups. “I’m a little upset with my second team” he said. “I’m glad I didn’t have to go but eight deep”.

In light of the score, that may seem like coach-speak, but you don’t get 477 wins at St. Frances, not demanding perfection. Fans should see the Panthers as much as possible this year, as Wells indicated his storied career will end when 500 wins are reached.

So launches the season for both teams. SFA has a veteran team full of college prospects, while Gwynn Park sports as young squad, learning under a first year coach. One thing is certain; both will be teams nobody wants to play at the end of the season.