TOWSON — Thousands trudged the streets of Baltimore, forming traffic jams that radiated miles from Goucher College’s Decker Sports and Recreation Center, just to have a chance at witnessing possibly the Game of the Year in Charm City. Those who were wise enough arrived hours beforehand, and those who cut it close on time were turned away, as No. 3 St. Frances and No. 5 Poly drew a crowd that maxed-out the 1,200-seat arena and on the brink of fire-hazard status.
It was so packed that Jay Wright, head coach of the top-ranked Villanova Wildcats men’s basketball team, was denied entry. Maryland Sports Access and other media chains were rejected admittance, too, but in the end, it was the Panthers who rose to the occasion.
https://twitter.com/gregwatkins830/status/953023908394995712
SportsMajors on Twitter
Trying to get to #1 @SFA_Basketball vs #2 @PolyBoysBball looks like this on 695 ?????????♂️
Junior 6-foot-6 wing Bassirou Diop scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds as No. 3 St. Frances beat No. 5 Poly, 65-57, in a Martin Luther King Day special on Monday night.
The Panthers (21-2) trailed by nine at one point in the first quarter and the Engineers (8-2) led 33-30 at halftime thanks to Demetrius Mims’ 18 points. But Diop locked down Poly’s 6-5 senior wing in the second half, holding him to just nine points over the final two quarters. Mims, who is taking his talents to Long Beach State this fall, wound up with a game-high 27 points.
SportsMajors on Twitter
Halftime #2 @PolyBoysBball 33 #1 @SFA_Basketball Flat out dog fight for the top spot!! #Highlights later ???
SportsMajors on Twitter
Poly 18 St Frances 15 https://t.co/5CitNcbm5Q
“We had to change up the matchup, cause he kept shooting the ball going right,” Diop told The Baltimore Sun after Monday’s win. “They told me to guard him and just shut him down. Just force him left so he couldn’t score anymore. That’s what I tried to do. That was the biggest obligation I had to do. Don’t worry about scoring… just shut him down.”
Marcus Helton on Twitter
6-7 2019 forward Bassirou Diop had 18 points to lead St. Frances to big victory over Poly tonight. Transferred in from Bayside HS in Virginia Beach over the summer and holds an offer from Hampton. #DMVhoops @abasswhooping
Diop erased the St. Frances deficit for good when he converted a layup that broke a stalemate with 4:24 left in the third quarter. Though junior 6-6 forward Justin Lewis brought the Engineers within one before the third quarter ended on a 3-pointer, the Panthers never trailed after Diop’s tie-breaking basket.
Sophomore 5-11 guard Ace Baldwin added 10 points, five assists and four steals and sixth man, sophomore 6-3 guard Jordan Toles, scored 11 points. St. Frances clawed back and surged ahead with its depth, getting contributions from junior 6-2 guard Rajeir Jones (10 points, four rebounds) and senior 6-3 guard Elijah Epps (eight points, eight rebounds, four assists).
Sophomore 6-foot point guard Rahim Ali added 17 points for Poly.
“I think their depth hurt us a little bit, as it has hurt teams all year,” Poly coach Sam Brand told The Baltimore Sun. “As that happened, I thought late in the game, in a tight game, their experience hurt us. They just looked comfortable continuing to trust each other, and I thought we made some plays where each guy was trying to hit a home run.”
But, Brand, a Baltimore guy through and through, acclaimed the contest and the theatrics it delivered.
“It brought the city out,” Brand said. “I think our schools represent different strong points in our city, and I’m glad the city came out to watch. I wish we could’ve been on the winning end of it.”
