Godwin falls in semis

It should come as no surprise to anyone who watched Calvert Hall dispatch Mills Godwin 49-34 last night in the semifinals of the Benedictine Capital City Classic that the Cardinals spend a good bit of each practice honing their defense.

"That's right," said coach John Bauersfeld, whose team will play Mount Saint Joseph, a 50-33 winner over Cardinal Gibbons, in tonight's 8:30 all-Baltimore championship game.

"We spend a lot of time -- probably 60 percent -- doing shell drills, principles of man-to-man, man-you-ball, guarding on the ball."

For most of four quarters, the Cardinals used speed, quickness and athleticism to pressure the Eagles in the backcourt and on the perimeter, clog the passing lanes and keep them from finding a rhythm.

When Godwin managed to penetrate, Jonathan Graham often was lurking in the paint.

"When I was a kid, 9 or 10 years old, just getting started, they gave me the nickname 'The Blockinator,'" said the lithe 6-8 junior who rejected nine shots, scored 15 points and collected eight rebounds.

"As I got older, I realized that shot-blocking was a good part of my defense.

"The key is to stay on my feet and not fall for head fakes or anything. Just keep my hands straight up. That makes it really difficult for the shooter."

The Cardinals (10-2) set the tone early, allowed just four field goals (in 20 attempts) in the first half, grabbed 23 boards (10 offensive) to the Eagles' 13 and went into the break up 26-8.

"We knew Godwin did a great job executing their offense," said Bauersfeld, a 1994 Calvert Hall graduate who lettered four years at Gettysburg College.

"We knew we had to jump to the ball and push cutters behind us and shoot gaps and passing lanes when we could. We always know Jon's back there to pick us up."

Down 34-15 after three periods, the Eagles, scrambling furiously, made a run early in the fourth.

Adam Caine and Fletcher Lumpkin buried consecutive 3-pointers, Ben Crouch nailed a short jumper, and, when Lumpkin stroked a shot from the right wing 4:20 from the end, the Eagles' deficit was 34-25.

The Cardinals then switched to a 2-3 zone, quickly rebuilt a 15-point advantage and held the Eagles at bay the rest of the way.

"You can't take any team for granted," said CH guard Kyle Wise. "You have to keep your foot on their throat, as Coach likes to say."

Godwin forced 18-of-49 shooting and 14 turnovers and outrebounded Calvert Hall 37-33. The Eagles finished 12 of 45 and coughed up 15 turnovers.

"Calvert Hall is a talented team," said MG coach Hunter Thomas, whose team plays Gibbons at 6:30 p.m. for third place. "When we became the aggressor, we realized we could play with them.

"I can't ask our guys to play any better defense.

"I'm proud of my kids."

CALVERT HALL (10-2)

Holmes 5, Lee 9, Wise 7, Graham 15, Jackson 6, Bonds 2, Thomas 0, Morgan 5, Rincavage 0, Augustus 0. Totals: 18 8-14 49.
MILLS GODWIN (5-5)

Caine 3, Crouch 7, Lumpkin 8, Harvey 8, Parsons 2, Reynolds 2, McColley 1, Pumpelly 0, Wood 1, Mehretab 0, Alley 0, Bartee 0, Whitaker 2. Totals: 12 6-9 34.
Calvert Hall ------------------------- 9 17 8 15 -- 49
Mills Godwin ------------------------- 4 4 7 17 -- 34

Three-point goals: CH Wise 2, Lee, Graham, Morgan. MG Caine, Crouch, Lumpkin, Harvey.

CONSOLATIONS

No. 7 Benedictine 88,
Holy Cross 73