Baltimore Catholic League: Difference between revisions

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The '''Baltimore Catholic League''' (otherwise known as the '''The BCL''', or simply '''BCL''') is a competitive basketball league based in [[Baltimore, Maryland]]. Participants are private, parochial high schools in the Baltimore region; the league includes schools from towns as distant as [[Hagerstown, Maryland|Hagerstown]] or[[Severn, Maryland|Severn]].

The '''Baltimore Catholic League''' ('''BCL'''), locally known as the '''Catholic League''' is a competitive [[basketball]] association composed of private [[Catholic]] high schools in the [[Baltimore, Maryland]] geographic area.

== History ==

The BCL was founded in 1972, after the Baltimore high school basketball season culminated in the MSA Championship game, [[Mount Saint Joseph High School|Mt. St. Joseph High School]] defeated Dunbar High School. This game went on to be known as one of the most remarkable and controversial games in Baltimore high school basketball history. The impetus for the creation of the BCL arrived in the off-season. The goal was to make a separate division from the Maryland Scholastic Association (MSA), which served as the league for all high school athletics in the Baltimore area, public or private. The BCL created a division that was strictly for Baltimore area Catholic High Schools.

It is alleged that the [[Washington Catholic Athletic Conference]] (WCAC) was the model for the BCL. The BCL was originally composed of most of the schools in the list below, with the most recent additions being [[The John Carroll School]] in the 2010–11 season, and [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School (Maryland)|Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] in the 2011–12 season. [[Archbishop Curley High School]], a founding member of the league, left the BCL in 1997.

== Participating Schools ==

*[[Mount Saint Joseph High School]]

:Head coach: Pat Clatchey

:Athletic director: Paul Triplett

The [[Cardinal Gibbons School]] (which closed in 2010) has the most BCL championships to date. The late O. Ray Mullis, former head coach at Cardinal Gibbons, has the most all-time wins of any coach in Baltimore City history (621 wins), while simultaneously claiming the most BCL championships (6). Other notable coaches in the league included Mark Amatucci, formerly of [[Calvert Hall College High School|Calvert Hall College]], who won a national championship in the early 80s, Cokey Robertson, formerly of [[St. Maria Goretti High School]], Pat Clatchey of [[Mount Saint Joseph High School|Mount Saint Joseph]], William Wells formerly of [[St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)|St. Frances Academy]], Jerry Savage formerly of [[Loyola Blakefield]], and Dan Popera formerly of [[Archbishop Curley High School]].

*Towson Catholic High School[http://www.immaculateconception.net ]

:Head coach: Josh Pratt

:Athletic director: Jeff Palumbo

*St. Frances Academy[http://www.sfacademy.org]

:Head coach: William Wells

:Athletic director: Jerome Shelton

*[[Calvert Hall College|Calvert Hall College High School]]

:Head coach: Mark Amatucci

:Athletic director: Lou Eckerl

*[[Loyola Blakefield]]

:Head coach: Josh Davalli

:Athletic director: Michael Keeney

*St. Maria Goretti High School[http://www.goretti.org]

:Head coach: Cokey Robertson

:Athletic director: Carol Brashears

*The Cardinal Gibbons School[http://www.cardinalgibbonsschool.com]

:Head coach: Jeff Cheevers

:Athletic director: Jeff Cheevers

*Archbishop Spalding High School[http://archbishopspalding.org]

:Head coach: Dale Chambers

:Athletic director: Lee Dove

== Scheduling ==

The league isworks in cooperation with the MIAA ([[Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association]] (MIAA). 7Seven of the 8 teams participate in the MIAA A Conference, which results in each team playing twice against each other (intwice, once "home" and "away"once matches)away. [[St. Maria Goretti High School|St. Maria Goretti]] is the only member of the BCL that does not participate in the MIAA. Two schools participate in the MIAA 'A' conference, but do not participate in the '''BCL''': [[McDonogh School]] and [[St. John's Prospect Hall]]

After the conclusion of the season, the '''BCL''' sponsors a league tournament held at [[Loyola College in Maryland|Loyola College]]'s [[Reitz Arena]]. The event usually occurs after the MIAA Conference Championship. Allwith all 8 teams of the league participateparticipating. inIt thisis a [[single-elimination tournament]] (with 4 quarterfinal matchups, 2 semi-final games, and 1a finalchampionship game. The Junior Varsity (JV) teams also play in the tournament, but held at the home of the higher seed for each game.

== Current BCL StarsGame of the Week ==

Beginning with the 2006–2007 season, RC Sports Productions broadcasts a Baltimore Catholic League Game of the Week on Fox 1370 Sports Radio (formerly V1370) WVIE in Pikesville, Baltimore.

== Participating schools ==

'''CLASS OF 2007'''

*[[St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)|St. Frances Academy]]

*[[Calvert Hall College High School]]

*[[Loyola Blakefield]]

*[[St. Maria Goretti High School]]

*[[Archbishop Spalding High School]]

*[[Mount Saint Joseph College]]

*[[The John Carroll School]]

*[[Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School (Baltimore, Maryland)|Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School]]

*Former members: [[Towson Catholic High School|Towson Catholic]] and [[Cardinal Gibbons School]] both closed in 2009 and 2010, respectively; [[Archbishop Curley High School]] left the league in 1997.

== Notable BCL alumni ==

*F Donte Green, Towson Catholic

Many former BCL players later played collegiate basketball at [[NCAA]] Division I schools, with some advancing to the [[NBA]]:

G Malcolm Delaney, '''Towson Catholic Owls'''

*[[Donté Greene]], '07 - NBA [[Sacramento Kings]], NCAA [[Syracuse Orange]]

*[[Carmelo Anthony]], '02 - NBA [[New York Knicks]], [[Denver Nuggets]], NCAA [[Syracuse Orange]] via [[Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)]]

*[[Malcolm Delaney]], '07 - NCAA [[Virginia Tech Hokies]]

'''Calvert Hall Cardinals'''

*F/C Dino Gregory, Mt. St. Joseph

*[[Juan Dixon]], '98 - NBA [[Toronto Raptors]], [[Portland Trail Blazers]] and [[Washington Wizards]], NCAA [[Maryland Terrapins]]

*[[Duane Ferrell]], '84 - NBA [[Atlanta Hawks]], [[Indiana Pacers]] and [[Golden State Warriors]], NCAA [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]]

*[[Gary Neal]], '02 - NBA [[San Antonio Spurs]], NCAA [[La Salle Explorers]] and [[Towson Tigers]]

*[[Jack McClinton]], '02 - selected by the [[San Antonio Spurs]] in the [[2009 NBA draft]].,<ref>McDonald, Jeff (June 26, 2009). - "NBA DRAFT; SPURS ADD THREE; Spurs see Blair as steal". - ''[[San Antonio Express-News]]''.</ref> NCAA [[Miami Hurricanes]]

*[[Damion Lee]], '10 - NCAA [[Louisville Cardinals]], [[Drexel Dragons]]

'''Spalding Cavaliers'''

*C Braxton Dupree, Calvert Hall

*[[Rudy Gay]], '04 - NBA [[Memphis Grizzlies]], NCAA [[UConn Huskies]]

*[[Aleksandar Pavlović (basketball)|Aleksandar Pavlović]], '99 - NBA Cleveland Cavaliers

*[[Cam Whitmore]], ‘23 - NBA [[Houston Rockets]], NCAA [[Villanova Wildcats]]

'''Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders'''

G/F Lloyd McCleave, Calvert Hall

*[[Norman Black]], '75 - NBA [[Detroit Pistons]], NCAA Saint Joseph's College

*[[Dylon Cormier]], '10 - , NCAA [[Loyola Greyhounds]]

*[[Quintin Dailey]], '79 - NBA [[Chicago Bulls]], [[L.A. Clippers]] and [[Seattle SuperSonics]], NCAA San Francisco Dons

*[[Steve Wojciechowski]], '94 - NCAA [[Duke University]] Blue Devils, former head coach at [[Marquette University]]

'''Archbishop Curley Friars'''

G/F Alex Franz, Cardinal Gibbons

*[[Kwame Evans]] (played at Curley from 1987 to 1989) - NCAA [[George Washington University]] Colonials - made 3 trips to the NCAA Tournament ('93, '94, and '96) with a Sweet 16 appearance in 1993. Evans currently ranks fifth on GW's all-time scoring list and was inducted into the university's athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.

G/F Omari Mobley, Loyola Blakefield

G/F Mike Horne, Loyola Blakefield

G Desmond Thomas, St. Frances

F Aric Brooks, St. Frances

'''Class of 2008'''

F/G Sean Mosley, St. Frances

C/F Andrew Fitzgerald, St. Frances

G James Davenport, Loyola Blakefield

G Sal Schittino, Loyola Blakefield

G Larry Bastfield, Towson Catholic

F Brandon Greene, Towson Catholic

G LuVincent Breckenridge, Towson Catholic

G Terrell Bruce, Towson Catholic

C Henry Sims, Mt. St. Joseph

G Justin McCoy, Mt. St. Joseph

G/F Chris Olsen, Mt. St. Joseph

G Julian Watson, Spalding

G/F Kevon Moore, Spalding

G Pat Dougherty, Calvert Hall

G Jamar Briscoe, Cardinal Gibbons

'''CLASS OF 2009'''

G/F LeShon Edwards, Towson Catholic

F/G Naji Hibbert, St. Frances

G Quinton Goodwin, Mt. St. Joseph

F Gerald Hill, Mt. St. Joseph

G Matt Miller, Mt. St. Joseph

F Torè Turner, Mt. St. Joseph

G Matt Rum, Loyola Blakefield

F Brad Bald, Spalding

G Shawn Holmes, Calvert Hall

*-indicates player has verbally committed to a college. Donte will play basketball for [[Jim Boeheim]] at [[Syracuse University]], while Dino and Braxton will compete in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Coast_Conference ACC]] under [[Gary Williams]] at [[University of Maryland]].

== Notable BCL Alumni ==

'''Mount Saint Joseph Gaels''':

Will Thomas '04 -NCAA George Mason Patriots

Louis Birdsong '06 -NCAA George Mason Patriots

Brian Johnson '05 -NCAA Delaware Blue Hens via Winchendon School

Kevin Swecker '06 -NCAA Longwood Lancers

Chase Adams '06 -NCAA Centenary College Gents

Dejuan Goodwin '06 -NCAA Marist Red Foxes

'''Towson Catholic Owls''':

[[Carmelo Anthony]] '02 -NBA Denver Nuggets, NCAA Syracuse Orange via Oak Hill Academy

Darnell Hopkins '02 -NCAA Murray State Racers

Keith Jenifer '00 -NCAA Virginia Cavaliers, Murray State Racers via Hargrave Military Academy

'''Calvert Hall Cardinals''':

[[Juan Dixon]] '98 -NBA Portland Trailblazers & Washington Wizards, NCAA Maryland Terrapins

Jack McClinton '02 -NCAA Siena Saints, Miami Hurricanes via South Kent Prep

Rick Harris '05 -NCAA UMass Minutemen via Winchendon School

Russell Frederick '06 -NCAA DII Philadelphia Rams

Calvin Wise '05 -NCAA DIII St. Mary's Seahawks

Maurice Martin '03 -NCAA DII Philadelphia Rams

'''Spalding Cavaliers''':

[[Rudy Gay]] '04 -NBA Memphis Grizzlies, NCAA UConn Huskies

Will Bowers '03 -NCAA Maryland Terrapins

Derek Young '06 -NCAA Navy Midshipmen

'''Gibbons Crusaders''':

[[Steve "Wojo" Wojciechowski]] '94 -NCAA Duke Blue Devils

Leon Williams '04 -NCAA Ohio Bobcats

Kenny Hasbrouck '03 -NCAA Siena Saints via Maine Central Prep

'''St. Frances Panthers''':

Mark Karcher '97 -NCAA Temple Owls

Darnell Harris '03 -NCAA LaSalle Explorers

'''Loyola Dons''':

Chris Clunie '01 -NCAA Davidson Wildcats

Essien Ford '03 -NCAA DIII Widener Aggies

Pat O'Connell '06 -NCAA DIII Johns Hopkins Blue Jays

'''Goretti Gaels'''

*[[Rodney Monroe]], '87 - NBA [[Atlanta Hawks]], NCAA [[NC State]] Wolfpack

*[[Rodney Gibson]], '01 - NCAA [[Saint Francis Red Flash|St. Francis Red Flash]]

*[[Derrick Davis]], '03 - NCAA [[South Carolina St.]] Bulldogs

*[[Gene Johnson (basketball, fl. 2000s)|Gene Johnson]], '06 - NCAA [[Morgan State]] Bears

*[[Kevin Breslin]], '08 - Semi-Pro [[Washington Generals]], NCAA [[Washington College]] Shoremen

'''Mount Saint Joseph Gaels'''

Gene Johnson '06 -NCAA Morgan State Bears

*[[Torrey Butler]], '99 - NCAA [[Coastal Carolina]]

*[[Will Thomas (basketball)|Will Thomas]], '04 - NCAA [[George Mason Patriots]]

== Extra Information ==

*[[Henry Sims]], '08 - NBA [[Philadelphia 76ers]], NCAA [[Georgetown University]]

*[[Phil Booth (basketball)|Phil Booth]], '14 - NCAA [[Villanova Wildcats]]

There has been talk that current MIAA members '''St. John's Catholic Prep''' (formerly [[St. John's at Prospect Hall Literary Institution]]) of [[Frederick, Maryland]], a team which participates in the MIAA 'A' Conference, '''Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School''' of [[Essex, Maryland]], '''The John Carroll School''' of [[Bel Air, Maryland]], and [[Archbishop Curley High School]] of Baltimore, Maryland, all members of the 'B' conference have been in discussion with competing in the BCL for the 2007-2008 season. Though there is no confirmation. However, it has been confirmed that Mt. Carmel, and John Carroll will be moved up to the MIAA 'A' conference in time for the 2007-2008 season. The current BCL champion is: Mt. St. Joseph High School, a team led by its fantastic seniors, and outstanding head coach Pat Clatchey.

*[[Jalen Smith]], '18 - NCAA [[Maryland Terrapins]]

During the BCL Tournament, players from the BCL are honored as they can be placed on 1st-team, 2nd-team, 3rd-team, and honorable mention for the league's "All Stars."

== External Links ==

[http://www.MIAAsports.com MIAA SPORTS]

'''St. Frances Panthers'''

[http://www.loyolahoops.com Loyola Blakefield Basketball]

*[[Devin Gray]], '91 - NBA [[Sacramento Kings]], [[San Antonio Spurs]], and [[Houston Rockets]]. NCAA [[Clemson Tigers|Clemson]]

*[[Sean Mosley]], '08 - NCAA [[Maryland Terrapins]]

*[[Mark Karcher]], '97 - NBA [[Philadelphia 76ers]], NCAA [[Temple Owls]]

*[[Dante Holmes]], '16 - NCAA [[North Carolina Central University]]

==References==

[http://www.Bmorehoops.com BMore Hoops]

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

[http://www.Midatlantichoops.com Mid-Atlantic Hoops]

*[http://www.miaasports.net MIAA SPORTS]

*[https://www.bclbasketball.com/ BCL Official Site]

*[http://www.SportsMajors.com Sportsmajors.com]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928144217/http://www.loyolahoops.com/ Loyola Blakefield Basketball]

*[http://www.Bmorehoops.com BMore Hoops]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180819055153/http://www.midatlantichoops.com/ Mid-Atlantic Hoops]

*[http://eteamz.active.com/ashsbasketball/ Archbishop Spalding Basketball]

[[Category:Maryland high school sports conferences]]

[http://eteamz.active.com/ashsbasketball/ Archbishop Spalding Basketball]

[[Category:Basketball in Maryland]]

[[Category:Basketball leagues in the United States]]

[[Category:High school basketball competitions in the United States]]

[[Category:Catholic Church in Maryland]]

[[Category:Catholic sports organizations]]