DeMatha’s basketball team (18-7, 8-3 in WCAC) is preparing for their last regular season game on February 16 against Bishop McNamara (10-17, 3-8 in WCAC). The matchup will take place at the Morgan & Kathy Wootten Gymnasium. DeMatha is on a three-game winning streak following a 65-63 road upset against Bishop O’Connell over the weekend.
The Stags are 4-2 in their last six games, including two tough losses to Paul VI and Archbishop Carroll. What hurt DeMatha the most in both of these losses was getting off to a slow start, especially against the Panthers who are consistently ranked in the top five across the board in the nation. This is because against these high powered offenses, when you play sloppy to start it is so hard to come back from it. Against Good Counsel and O’Connell, they got off to hot starts which ultimately led to wins.
“[We] are trying to relax their mind, try to simplify the playbook… putting guys in positions where they’re comfortable making the right reads,” head coach Mike G. Jones III said.
The Stags most recent game was a nail-biter to the buzzer. With Ashton “Ace” Meeks missing because of double technicals against Good Counsel that suspended him from Saturday’s game, there was a big hole in the offense. With fans wondering who would step up, Major Jones answered the call.
Major reached a career milestone in points on Valentine’s Day, scoring 24 points by shooting 85.7% from 3-point range and 75% from the field. That effort kept the Stags in it and allowed senior guard Jaden Shoultz to make the game-winning shot.
DeMatha got off to a hot start. Every time the Knights scored, DeMatha answered right back. That was the story the whole game, but with just 0:22 left on the game clock, the Knights tied it and the Stags had the last opportunity. Shoultz cut to the lane and dished it to the left near corner with 6.1 seconds left. Donovan Wright received the pass and attempted a game-winner with 3.5 seconds left. When the ball hit the front rim, Shoultz was in position for the rebound and quickly shot it off the glass, as both teams watched it bounce and go in as the clock expired for one of Stags’ biggest wins of the year.
DeMatha’s seniors have brought this team to new heights. Jaden Shoultz, a transfer from Northland High School in Columbus, Ohio and Ashton “Ace” Meeks have combined for 30.9 points per game this season, showing the ability to score at high levels. Fellow guards Jayden Smothers and Jaylen Ortiz, and power forward Jordan Stevens, have been real depth pieces for DeMatha on both sides of the ball.
“Not only this year, but the four years they’ve been in our program, they all have contributed in their own special way… it’s good to see them do their thing and grow as young men, grow as leaders in the community, and grow on the court as well,” Coach Jones said.
Smothers has been a great leader for this team, the definition of a blue collar player. His strengths are definitely in his mid-range shooting and he is shooting over 50% from the paint.
“The reason I have been so successful down in the paint is because I am patient when I get down there. I don’t rush to score. I always survey the defense to see what they are giving me. If they back up, I’m going to attack and look to score. If they stay up, I make the easy read to my teammates,” Smothers said.
Ortiz’s biggest strength is definitely being a 3D player. He is a strong defender and is able to help spread the floor by making a high percentage of three point shots, opening up lanes for penetrating guards. The Salisbury commit takes pride in getting defensive boards and steals. Against O’Connell on Saturday, he scored 8 points, hitting 2 of 3 from distance.
“I want it more; you got the ball, I need the ball,” said Oritz, describing his defensive mindset.
Stevens, a dual sport athlete playing both football and basketball, is committed to Coastal Carolina for football and is another great defensive player on the court. His defensive strengths are definitely in the rebounding game; he is averaging 4.7 boards per game which is third best on the team.
“I like to prioritize the little things about the game, especially rebounding, which has become one of my strong suits,” Stevens said. “Studying guys like Dennis Rodman and how he tracked the trajectory of the ball to get in the best position to rebound” is something Stevens says contributes to his game.
The keys for their upcoming game against the Mustangs are to get off to a fast start and play fundamental basketball. Don’t lose the turnover battle, make free throws when given the opportunity, and look to put the team up early. “[We] got to make it difficult from a defensive standpoint and then offensively move the ball, play with pace, share the ball and have fun,” Coach Jones said.
McNamara is struggling with the loss of Qayden Samuels, the 18th best player in the nation who has been sidelined because of a broken foot since January 11. In their last four, they are 1-3 with losses coming against Paul VI and Bishop O’Connell, the top two teams in the WCAC. Their most recent loss was to St. John’s, 59-65. Don’t be fooled by their record though, which is not indicative of the level of talent on their team. This team started to go south after the loss of Samuels, but they still have a Top 8 guard in the country in Prince-Alexander Moody.
Prince, who has signed to Indiana basketball, scored 40 points on McNamara’s senior night against St. Mary Ryken, scoring more than half of his team’s points in a 71-61 victory last Tuesday.
Coach Jones says the way to limit Moody and McNamara’s offense as a whole is to “be an active defender. KYP [know your personnel], so understand when you’re guarding them… one we can’t give up a straight line drive, two we have to be loaded to ball, and three when they shoot, make as difficult as possible. We have to be able to get that rebound when they miss.”
With Monday’s game closing out the regular season, Coach Jones talked about the goal the team has had since the beginning of the year. “We have had a couple of big wins so now we [are] just trying to figure out [how] to play our best basketball towards the end of the season to make a huge playoff run in the WCAC and win it all. So that is our goal since the beginning of the season and we’re going to have an opportunity [to do that].”
