Category: Baltimore City Feature

Gerstell bounces No. 10 City at IAABO hoops event; Oakland Mills routs Woodlawn

The backcourt of Anthony Carpenter (left) and Ahmad Harrison led the way for Gerstell Academy basketball Saturday. Carpenter finished with 17 points, and Harrison, a sophomore, added 14 as the 15th-ranked Falcons defeated No. 10 City College in the final game of the IAABO Board 23 Challenge at CCBC-Catonsville.

by Derek Toney

Playing a daunting non-league schedule, Gerstell Academy sprung a major upset last season en route to the MIAA B Conference championship. The Falcons are hoping the same formula works this season.

No. 15 Gerstell defeated 10th-ranked City College, 64-54, in the final game of the IAABO Board 23 Challenge at CCBC-Catonsville Saturday. No. 16 Oakland Mills, 19th-ranked C. Milton Wright, Calvert Hall College and North County were victorious in action Saturday.

The Hall snapped a three-game losing streak with a 62-41 victory over Mervo. The Cardinals (3-4), who won't play their first home game until Dec. 19, travel to top-ranked St. Frances Academy Wednesday.

C. Milton Wright improved to 2-0 with a 67-48 victory over last year's Class 2A state finalist North Caroline. After losing its opener Friday to Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, North County rebounded with a 53-42 victory over Catonsville.

The Comets, who opened their season with a loss to Oakland Mills, fell to 0-2. The Scorpions completed a strong opening week with a 64-42 victory over Woodlawn.

Daeshawn Eaton scored 21 points for Oakland Mills, who trailed 12-9 after the opening quarter. The defending Howard County co-champs (2-0) outscored the Warriors, 35-19, over the second and third periods to take a 44-31 advantage.

In the nightcap, Gerstell jumped out to a 17-point halftime advantage en route to its third victory. Senior guard Anthony Carpenter finished with 17 points and Ahmad Harrison added 14 for the Falcons (3-4).

"You're playing one of the teams a lot of people say it's going to be one of the tougher teams in the area so it's a really good win," said Gerstell coach Ben Thompson. "We got off to a pretty hot start, shared the ball and took advantage of mismatches."

The Carroll County school went on a 24-9 second quarter run to grab a 42-25 lead at intermission. City made a late run, climbing to within 55-46 with 2:31 left in regulation, but Carpenter found Harrison for a basket. Gerstell converted 7-of-10 on free throws in the fourth.

Last season, Gerstell got off to a 2-8 start, playing several MIAA A schools and public strongholds Woodlawn and Milford Mill Academy. The Falcons stunned eventual Class 4A state champ Perry Hall to win the Eckerd Holiday Tournament at Patterson, sparking an 18-2 close and the program's first basketball title.

The Falcons have the backcourt of Carpenter and Harrison back for its title defense. Gerstell, which already has a win over MIAA A and Baltimore Catholic League program Mount Carmel, hosts 3A state finalist and No. 17 Milford Mill Academy Tuesday in Finksburg.

"We like playing tough teams," said Carpenter. "We don't want anything easy."

Senior guard Jalen Yates led City with 16 points. With several talented transfers, the Knights are expected to be a factor in the Baltimore City league's Division I.

But City is figuring out its pieces.

"We're still trying to find our identity," said Smith in his second season. "We got to compete from start to finish."

IAABO Board 23 Challenge

at CCBC-Catonsville

No. 15 Gerstell Academy 64, No. 10 City College 54

Gerstell - Carpenter 17, Bethea 6, Thompson 7, Noble 7, Tinsley 13, Harrison 14. Totals 20 20-30 64.

City - Scott 4, Booker 13, Tilghman 6, Cuthrell 3, Hooper 4, Yates 16, Obiajuly 8. Totals 21 9-25 54.

Gerstell 18 24 9 13 - 64

City 16 9 10 19 - 54

No. 16 Oakland Mills 64, Woodlawn 42

Woodlawn -Blakeney 10, Cooper 5, Downs 3, Barnes 3, Wilson 2, Harris 6, Rice 10, Allen 2, Wheeler 1. Totals 13 12-18 42.

Oakland Mills - Eaton 21, Evans 6, Hopkins 6, Simpson 8, Parks 6, Eiland 9, Gaymon 7, Riggs 2. Totals 24 8-12 64.

Woodlawn 12 13 6 11 - 42

Oakland Mills 9 26 9 20 - 64

Other scores

North County 53, Catonsville 42

No. 19 C. Milton Wright 67, North Caroline 48

Calvert Hall College 62, Mervo 41