St. Frances Academy :: basketball blog

BCL Tournament:
JV sweeps championship tournaments - wins BCL this week, MIAA last week

The JV Panthers got it done once again by playing great team defense and using their quickness to get easy baskets off steals and rebounds. Once again it was a team win with three players in double figures and one with eight points. The final score was JV Panthers 59 and Mt. St. Joe 52.

Led again by Andrew Fitzgerald’s twenty-one points and twelve rebounds, MSJ had no answer for his inside presence. Jimmy Works was often streaking down the court uncontested as he scored fourteen points and six off the glass. His running buddy was Karrell Jones, who had ten points and handled the ball when MSJ was trying to foul. Niji Hibbert played another all around game with eight points, five boards and four assists.

It was a sad day in Pantherland yesterday as the season closed on the Boys Varsity in a two point loss to TC. This is the third time this year that a game with TC has been decided by two points and we were the victors the other two times.

It’s hard to say what went wrong because both teams played excellent basketball. We shut out Malcolm Delaney (except for free throws) and they shut down Shawn Alexander. It was like a heavyweight fight, two good teams slugging it out!

We went into the fourth quarter up by one and then TC came roaring back. We had to foul in order to get the ball back and TC made their free throws down the stretch. We made seven of ten free throws but that wasn’t good enough.

Sean Mosley led the way with eighteen points and eight boards. Desmond Thomas was a dynamo, especially in the fourth quarter, with thirteen points and five rebounds. Aric Brooks was his usual steady self with another double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds). Dwayne Allen had valuable minutes and had 4 points and 3 rebounds.

Unfortunately, the THREE referees missed the boat when Aric Brooks was fouled going to the basket….clearly a two shot foul…and called that by the THREE referees. When Aric missed the first shot, TC rebounded the ball, went down and got a basket. Our kids were waiting for the second shot so TC's layup was uncontested. After a discussion with the refs and coaches, the announcer stated that it was a “correctable error” and Aric got his second shot….the only problem was the “uncorrectable” basket that they allowed to stand. The basket was made by their mistake…and it was huge in a two point victory. Maybe we could have one of those flags like they have in football where the coach could throw it down and stop play in situations like that? Just a thought!

BCL Tournament:
JV Boys advance to championship with 15-point win over Gibbons
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 25, 2006

The JV team avenged their earlier loss to Cardinal Gibbons yesterday with a surprisingly easy fifteen point victory. Once again led by Jimmy Works’ eighteen points and eight rebounds, the team played pressure defense which caused Gibbons to make turnover after turnover.

Andrew Fitzpatrick, who was sick when we lost at Gibbons and didn’t play, scored thirteen points and added six boards. Niji Hibbert had ten points and Ryan Green had nine as it was a total team victory.

Be at SFA Monday, February 27th at 5:30 when the JV Panthers take on Mt. St. Joe for the championship of the Catholic League. Can we get a sweep?

BCL Tournament:
JV Boys pound Goretti in 1st round
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 24, 2006

The JV boys made short work of St. Maria Goretti on Friday evening as they defeated them handily 64-38. Everyone played and contributed. Jimmy Works led the scoring parade with nineteen, followed by Andrew Fitzgerald’s 18. Niji Hibbert only scored five points but he had ten boards, seven assists and four steals for an all around excellent game.

Knowing that they had another game at noon on Saturday, the coaches used their bench so that all could be rested and ready for the next round. This was a total team effort and an excellent win.

MIAA: JV Boys dim Breit's light as they defeat Loyola in OT to win championship
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 22, 2006

I saw two games in one yesterday. The first three quarter where our boys were outhustled and overmatched by Loyola’s team play…and then the fourth quarter and overtime period, where the JV finally lived up to its potential and pulled out a win.

Andrew Fitzgerald was shut out the first three quarters but came on strong at the end of the game to score seven points to go along with nine rebounds. Niji Hibbert kept it from being a rout by scoring fifteen points in the first half with twenty for the game along with a game high thirteen rebounds. Loyola is coached by former SFA teacher Steve Breit.

The final score was 49-41 but the Panthers missed six free throw attempts at the end of the game so it could have been a bigger lead.

Congratulations to the boys and their coaches as they are the second Panther team to win a championship this year…BOYS VARSITY…ARE YOU LISTENING? (They play Goretti in the first round of the Catholic League Tournament on Saturday at 3:30 at Loyola College…come out and support the Panthers!)

Lady Panthers win fourth consecutive IAAM championship
by defeating Seton Keough by 11
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 19, 2006

It was a milestone victory for Coach Shelton and the mighty Lady Panthers as they won a fourth consecutive IAAM championship, the fifth in six years.

The Panthers led from the first quarter and never relinquished that lead as they went on to defeat the Gators by 11. Interior defense by Kandice Greene and MiKhidah Hankins kept the Gators from scoring on the inside and great on the ball defense by Lakisha Walker, Maya Newman and Dawnae Roberts kept the Gators three point threats from doing serious damage. Rebounding, offensive and defensive, was another strength as the Panthers crashed the boards (Kandice Greene had fourteen herself) outrebounding the Gators on both ends of the floor.

IAAM Playoffs: Lady Panthers beat McDonough by 10 in semifinals
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP

The Lady Panthers had a great second half and overcame foul trouble to defeat McDonough Friday night at home. Kandice Greene had a huge game with another double-double (17 points, 19 rebounds) and four starters were in double figures. Mi-Khidah Hankins had 14 points and 9 boards and was a defensive presence with five steals. Dawnae Roberts collected twelve points and seven rebounds to go along with three assists. Maya Newman scored twelve points, had seven rebounds and five steals.

It was a total team effort. The Panthers were up by only two at the half and came roaring out of the locker room to expand their lead by seven at the end of the third quarter and pulled away to ice the game in the final quarter.

MIAA Playoffs: Panthers claw their way back to defeat Calvert Hall 54-52
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 16, 2006

It took a total team effort to defeat Calvert Hall last night after being down by as many as twelve points. Once again Dishawn Bradshaw came through with two big three pointers in the fourth quarter to bring us back.

Shawn Alexander scored six points in the fourth quarter and Matthew Terry hit two big free throws to seal the deal.

Sean Mosley led the team with seventeen points and nine rebounds but he couldn’t do it by himself. The rest of the team finally woke up in the fourth quarter and gave him some help. Aric Brooks chipped in with nine points but was shut out on the boards. He was in foul trouble most of the game after picking up two quick ones in the first quarter and that didn’t help.

As they say, a win is a win is a win….so tonight (Friday, February 17th) we play Towson Catholic at St. Paul’s at 5 p.m. The girls play at home at 5:30 against McDonough and since I don’t have bilocation powers yet, I will miss the boys’ game tonight and watch the girls. Come to one of the games and enjoy the semifinals of the playoffs!

SFA’s Lady Panthers were focused and intense as they defeated a totally overmatched St. Mary’s team yesterday. Chasing their fourth straight IAAM Championship, the team seemed to push themselves into another gear.

Maya Newman played the best game I’ve seen her play in four years scoring 12 points with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals. Kandace Greene was back to her old self with a double-double (16 points, 11 boards). Mi-Khida Hankins torched St. Mary’s with 15 points in three quarters. Everyone played and contributed as Danielle Parker added nine rebounds and Raizel Benn eight.

Tomorrow we meet McDonough at home at 5:30pm. They defeated Roland Park to get to the semifinals. According to the morning Sun, they may be without Brittany Mallory, their best player. McDonough has played us tough both games and we have had to come from deficits to defeat them so it should be a good match up. Tonight the boys play Calvert Hall at 7:15 at home…..see you there!

The Varsity showed their love on Valentine’s Day defeating Towson Catholic by one in overtime. Rallying from a six point deficit at the half, they proved their mettle by hitting clutch free throws with a huge fourth quarter by Desmond Thomas. When he wasn’t driving and dishing off to Dishawn Bradshaw, he was pulling up for short jumpers in the lane.

In overtime Sean Mosley made the key free throw that gave us the lead and then we held on to win. It was an upward climb the entire game as the refs seemed to think that TC couldn’t foul. At one point it was 10 team fouls for us and one for TC. The scoring table had its’ problems also as it took six fouls before Malcolm Delaney fouled out (maybe they were playing NBA rules and forgot to tell us). They also had problems starting the clock when there was three seconds left in overtime.

With all that adversity, the Panthers prevailed. Sean Mosley led the team with eighteen points and five rebounds, and Dishawn Bradshaw scored seventeen points, hitting three treys in a row in the third quarter to bring us back into contention.

This was truly a team win as each player contributed at some point. Aric Brooks was a demon on the boards with ten rebounds to go along with his fourteen points. Little Matt Terry was a like a gnat buzzing around with steals and feeding the post with three assists. The boys play Calvert Hall tomorrow at 7:15 at home for the first round of the MIAA playoffs. If we play like we did last night, we will be a tough out for any team.

The JV team rebounded from a horrible game against Loyola with a sparkling performance against TC. Led by Ryan Green’s 18 points and 3 rebounds, it was a total team effort last night. Andrew Fitzgerald had 18 points and Jimmy Works scored 10. The stats are incomplete (except for the points) because I missed most of the first half. What I saw in the second half was a team determined to win.

The JV plays an undetermined opponent tomorrow at 5:30 at home. Check tomorrow for more details….at the present time they are in a four way tie for first place.

The Varsity saved the day for Homecoming defeating Loyola 61-56 and avenging their earlier loss. With the first two games in the loss column, the pressure was on the Panthers to come up with a victory and they did not disappoint us. On Senior Day, the five seniors started the game and took a 14-12 lead after the first quarter. But Loyola was tough, playing a slowdown offense and we really couldn’t pull away and it stayed close throughout the entire game. Sean Mosley led the way with eighteen points, six rebounds and five assists. Aric Brooks was close behind with fifteen points and seven boards. The entire team played well with Shawn Alexander igniting the crowd with a thunderous dunk. Tonight we play TC to make up Sunday’s cancelled game and then we start the MIAA playoffs!

The Lady Panthers suffered their worst defeat of the season at the hands of a tall, talented Notre Dame squad from Virginia. Losing Mi-Khida Hankins to illness didn’t help but the girls looked uninspired and overmatched right from the beginning. A lack of rebounding especially on the defensive boards allowed Notre Dame to get two and three shots at the basket. It looked liked losing to TC earlier in the week hadn’t worn off. Let’s hope they get it together for the playoffs which begin tomorrow with a match against IND at 5:30 at home.

The best thing I can say about this game was that Danielle Parker came through with eleven points and nine rebounds but that wasn’t enough. Notre Dame was the more aggressive team even when they were behind after the first quarter. Our girls didn’t look confident or secure. That’s behind us….now we look forward to going after a 4th straight IAAM championship! GO LADY PANTHERS!!!!!!!

What can I say about this game…I’ve never seen the JV team look this bad! Sorry, but honesty is the best policy! Maybe it was an aberration because three SFA starters didn’t play or played very little.

Led by Andrew Fitzgerald’s 12 points and 9 rebounds, the rest of the team looked lost. Maybe there was a point to this and we will pick it up in the playoffs!

To Steve Breit, former SFA teacher and now at Loyola guidance counselor, I extend congratulations for his coaching victory.

21 years later, St. Frances girls got game
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 8, 2006

This month marks the fourth anniversary of the dedication of the St. Frances Academy Community Center and Gymnasium, so it is a good time to review and highlight the past twenty-one years of girls’ basketball history.

When I arrived at St. Frances Academy in 1984, I came from a proud tradition of winning three Diocesan High School CYO Championships and numerous middle school titles in Buffalo, New York. I was eager to help out and when Sister Rita Michelle approached me about coaching the girls’ basketball team, I readily agreed. At the time we had only a junior varsity team for the girls. Imagine my surprise when at my first practice I realized that the girls didn’t know the difference between a “lay-up” and make-up! Drills I had taken for granted with my junior high students were viewed as too complicated and obtuse by my high school team. When we played our first game, we lost 104-2 to Towson Catholic. What was the problem? My girls couldn’t inbound the ball!

Mr. Jerome Shelton took over a few years later. We had a varsity team, but we were still losing more than we were winning. Somewhere along the way, he convinced Melba Chamber’s grandmother (an SFA graduate herself) to send her to St. Frances….and that was the beginning! Melba didn’t want to come but she didn’t have a choice. After playing her freshman year and being the “do it all player” (bring the ball up the court, shoot and then rebound), she recruited some other excellent student-athletes and, as they say, the rest is history! One of those she recruited, Kristi Webb, is now the coach of the JV team. Nillion Lambert, another former SFA basketball player, teaches Math and helps Kristi out with the coaching.

#2 Lady Panthers lose to #1 TC twice in eight days, 56-47
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 7, 2006

When Mr. Shelton came into my office on Tuesday night to analyze the game and commiserate with me, we agreed on two things…..the team didn’t play well and yes, we think we have the better team. What went wrong? We started out great and jumped to an 11-8 lead after the first quarter. TC was ahead by one at the half after Denita Hill threw up a long bank-shot three pointer at the buzzer. We were in the game. By the end of the third quarter we were down six but we roared back and tied the game. Then suddenly with two minutes left we lost it! TC finished strong and made their free throws down the stretch and we didn’t. Uncharacteristically, the Lady Panthers missed sixteen free throws in the game. That certainly was the difference!

Mi-Khida Hankins once again led the team with sixteen points and Kandace Greene chipped in with seven points and six boards….but it was not enough. Will the team rebound from this crushing defeat and be ready for the playoffs next week? Let’s hope so! Maybe we will meet TC for the third time on February 19th in the finals of the IAAM Tournament. I’m betting we will.

Lady Panthers beat NDP on Monday, play TC on Tuesday
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 6, 2006

They’re baaaack………..Kandace Greene and Maya (D.A.D.) Newman were back on the court last night as the Lady Panthers took on NDP. SFA won 77-58. Warming up for the big game tonight, at times the Panthers looked uninspired and at times sensational. It was obvious they weren’t totally focused as they let NDP back in the game on several occasions.

Led by Danielle Parkers fifteen points and one more double-double by Mi-Khida Hankins (fourteen points, eleven boards), it was truly a team win as every player contributed. Dawnae Roberts is looking for her shot more, scoring twelve points with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. LaKisha Walker was her usual steady self with eleven points and four rebounds to go along with three assists and three steals.

Raizel Benn once again made her presence known in a rare starting role with seven points and seven boards….she even made a free throw! She is looking more comfortable in the offense and with Kandace not yet at 100%, we will need her tonight.

Panthers lose to Calvert Hall by two
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 5, 2006

The wrong Panther team showed up at Calvert Hall on Superbowl Sunday. After playing several good games in a row, the Panthers were outhustled and outrebounded by a gritty Calvert Hall team that refused to lose.

It all came down to rebounding and free throw shooting in the fourth quarter. Calvert Hall got the rebounds and made their free throws and we didn’t, in fact we missed five free throws in the fourth quarter which was the difference in the game.

Sean Mosley had a great game with twenty one points and nine rebounds. Shawn Alexander added eight points and twelve boards and Aric Brooks was his steady self with ten points and seven rebounds. It wasn’t enough against a tough Calvert Hall team playing at home.

JV wins at Calvert Hall 70-61
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 5, 2006

The JV played a tough Calvert Hall team that refused to quit. Led by Niji Hibbert’s double-double (22 points and 10 rebounds), and Ryan Green’s 23 points, the Panthers came out on top.

It was a team win as Andrew Fitzgerald came through with eleven points and four boards and Jimmy Works added twelve points, most coming from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Once again, their defensive pressure and depth helped them control the game in the waning minutes for another impressive victory.

In overtime, Lady Panthers overcome pesky McDonough 72-61
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
February 3, 2006

McDonough came to play on Friday night and the Panthers needed every member of the team to make a contribution to overcome a 15 point deficit and win the game. Minus two starters, Kandace Green with a dislocated finger and Maya (dumb as dirt with a 4.0 GPA) Newman, the Panthers needed all the help they could get from their bench. Fortunately, Danielle Parker stepped up with six points and ten rebounds and Raizel Benn chipped in with seven points and nine boards.

The Lady Panthers were down seven at the half and eleven at the end of the third quarter but came roaring back with defensive pressure and a huge third and fourth quarter by Mi-Khidah Hankins who scored seventeen of her twenty-one points in the second half. The Panthers were down by one when Raizel Benn was fouled and had two free throws. Raizel, sorry to say, hadn’t even been close in attempting her four previous free throws so I was not thinking positive thoughts. Raizel missed the first one (not close again) and seemed to gather herself and made the second to tie the score. We had one last shot at a win and Tanika Jeffers, who hadn’t scored all game, took an open shot and missed.

Overtime….not what we needed but we were glad to be there. Mi-Khidah had fouled out in the fourth quarter, and soon after overtime began, Danielle Parker fouled out and Dawnae Roberts, our sterling point guard, had four fouls for most of the second half. But defensive pressure took over and Tanika Jeffers found her shot. She scored nine points in overtime, most by steals and layups and the Lady Panthers went on to win by eleven. What a relief! And who was the happiest Panther of them all? I’d say it was Dumb as Dirt with a 4.0 GPA!

An All-Metro forward as a sophomore, St. Frances' Mi-Khida Hankins is a force to be reckoned with in the paint. The 6-foot-1 junior scored 51 points last week, including 20 as the No. 1 Panthers edged No. 4 Seton Keough, 45-42, Friday night in a key Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference matchup.

Hankins hit two free throws with four seconds left to seal the win over Seton Keough. She grabbed 10 rebounds and had two steals as the Panthers (18-1) remained unbeaten in the A Conference through the weekend. Also last week, Hankins, who helped the Panthers win their third straight A Conference title a year ago, had 17 points in a 53-44 win over St. Paul's and 14 points in a 62-34 win over Mount de Sales.

A veteran of the Baltimore Cougars Amateur Athletic Union basketball program, Hankins averages 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals per game for the Panthers. An A/B student, she is drawing a lot of attention from college coaches.

With playoffs approaching, fun resurfaces for Panthers
by Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
January 31, 2006

Two consistent games in a row…..what’s happening? It is possible the Panthers are poised for a playoff and tournament run? Let’s hope so! They defeated Spalding 69-34 in the SFA gym.

Last night was a fun game. The outcome was never in question as the Panthers held Spalding to nine points in the first half. Everything was going our way as Dishawn Bradshaw (got his shot back) was six for six from the three point line. Everyone contributed in a big way including Kirk Caldwell and Eric Hamilton who had six and seven points respectively off the bench.

The most amusing part of the game was in the fourth quarter when the entire team tried to get Dwayne Allen to score. Sean Mosley was sent back into the game specifically to get the ball to Dwayne. When that didn’t happen, Dishawn Bradshaw was given the same task. With all their efforts, Dwayne fouled out before he could score much to the amusement of Coach Wells and the team. Dwayne didn’t seem to care in his own humble and unselfish way.

The next game will be on Friday away against Goretti and then on Sunday at Calvert Hall. Let’s hope we can rack up two more wins.

Fitzgerald & Hibbert sweep the boards, JV wins 51-41
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
January 31, 2006

The Panthers played the board game last night as Andrew Fitzgerald pulled down seventeen rebounds to go along with his seventeen points and Niji Hibbert had twelve boards and fifteen points. That dynamic duo was too much for Spalding as the Panthers got another total team effort.

Jamal Brunson came up big with five points, five rebounds and a stellar defensive job. Karrell Jones had five points and four assists, while Jimmy Works added seven points and five boards. After two losses last week, this was a good turnaround for the Panthers.

Lady Owls nip Lady Panthers, 57-55
by Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
January 30, 2006

For once the game lived up to the hype. Last night’s matchup between the number one Panthers and the number two Owls was a game to be seen by all. The Panthers took the lead in the first quarter 15-11and TC came back to lead by five at the half. From then on it was nip and tuck with the Panthers leading by one going into the fourth quarter.

With ten seconds left, TC led by two. Dawnae Roberts came down the court after a TC turnover with a chance to tie the score or go ahead. She fed the ball to Mi-Khida Hankins who had two good looks at the basket. She was fouled on both attempts but the refs had their whistles in their pocket at that point in the game. After getting the rebound and attempting the second shot, Mi-Khida again got the rebound to go up again but she was stripped (read mauled) of the ball and time ran out.

There were no losers in this game; it was a matchup of two good teams giving it all they had. What did in the Panthers were the offensive rebounds we lost to the Lady Owls. They had too many second chance points. Mi-Khidah Hankins led the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds followed by Kandace Greene’s 9 points and 12 boards.

The rematch will be next Tuesday at TC at 5:30. Let’s hope it’s as good a game as last night with a different outcome!

Panthers put it together against Gibbons, 70-47
by Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
January 29, 2006

What team was this? Certainly not the one we saw on Friday! Once again, we didn’t know which Panther team would show up for Sunday’s game.

Thankfully, the hustling intense team took the court and made short work of Gibbons. The starters sat, except for Aric Brooks, and the reserves started. They looked better than the starters did on Friday night and played and excellent first quarter. When the starters did enter the game, they seemed focused and intent on continuing to play with the enthusiasm and intensity that the reserves had.

Shawn Alexander led the way with eighteen points and four rebounds. Aric Brooks had another double-double with eleven points and eleven rebounds.

Sean Mosley chipped in fourteen points and had four steals. Dwayne Allen added eight points and nine big rebounds. It was a total team effort….we need to see more of this as the season begins to wind down. Next up is Spalding at home on Tuesday. Come and see which Panther team we will see!

JV knocked out of first place by Gibbons, 51-46
by Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
January 29, 2006

It was the game for first place. Gibbons had one loss to us and we lost to Mt. St. Joe. When it was all said and done, Gibbons was the last man standing.

Despite a valiant effort by Ryan Green with twenty six points and eight rebounds and Niji Hibbert’s fourteen points and seven boards, it just wasn’t enough. I won’t say it was the reffing (it was baaaaaaaaaaaaad), or the fact that we missed Andrew Fitzgerald, who was sick, but I guess that combination didn’t help. The team played hard but missed free throws did us in. 11 for 22 from the charity stripe (50% not 50 cent or should I say fitty) will not do it. We have to rebound from this loss for the Spalding game tomorrow.

Panthers fall to McDonough again, 53-48
by Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
January 27, 2006

Once again the Eagles soared and this time it was on our home turf. The Panthers had no answers on Friday night as they played three quarters of lackluster basketball. By the time they woke up in the fourth quarter it was too little, too late.

Aric Brooks, once again showed a lot of hustle and heart, as he led the team with sixteen points and five rebounds. It wasn’t enough as Dishawn Bradshaw was shut down with three points and Sean Mosley only scored five.

This was not a good loss for the Panthers.

Name	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
Mosley	5	3	1	2
Alexander	8	7	1	1
Brooks	16	5	1	1
Bradshaw	3	3	0	1
Thomas	9	0	1	1
Terry	3	2	2	2
Allen	2	1	0	1
Hamilton	3	0	0	0

Respond to Sr. John Francis

Panther JV wins big over Eagles, 65-45
By Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP
January 27, 2006