The WCAC playoffs are now at an end for the Stags after their loss in the semi-finals to Gonzaga, 53-50. As the Eagles advanced to face PVI in the WCAC basketball championship, the Stags prepared to participate in the MD Private School State Basketball Tournament.
Despite the tough ending to the WCAC playoffs, the Stags went into the Maryland private school tournament and bounced back against their first opponent, Riverdale Baptist. The result was just more of the same for the two teams, as the Stags convincingly beat the Crusaders, 70-53. DeMatha was led by their starting guards Ashton Meeks and Jacob Wallace. Meeks had a game-high 27 points, and 2 steals, and Wallace finished the game with 14 points and 5 assists. This win ended Riverdale’s season while simultaneously advancing the Stags to the quarterfinals against the Clinton Grace Eagles.
Against Clinton Grace, DeMatha kept up their newfound momentum and won 73-69. In the first three quarters, the Stags dominated to the point where they led by 20 going into the fourth. In the final quarter, the Eagles gave an all-out effort in an attempt to make a comeback. However, despite Clinton’s best push, DeMatha withstood and secured the win. In this game, DeMatha was led by junior forward Charles Thomas III. In one of their most important games of the year, the forward only missed one shot, making 9 of 10 from the field including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe, en route to a team-high 23 points and a berth into the semifinals of the MD Private School State Tournament.
On Wednesday March 6, DeMatha will travel up the road to Elizabeth Seton High School to take on St. Andrews. With tip-off at 5:15 p.m., all of DeMatha hopes that by 7:15, the basketball team will be celebrating a trip to the MD private school state championship game.
