Archbishop Spalding High girls’ basketball Bookie Rosemond said he’s been looking forward to playing perennial D.C. area powerhouse Riverdale Baptist. A matchup last season came apart because of snow. The Crusaders participated in Spalding’s opening tip-off mixer a couple of weeks ago, but the teams didn’t play each another.
The Cavaliers finally got their opportunity Friday evening, and they made the most of it. The top-ranked Severn school upended the nationally-ranked Crusaders, 69-58, in overtime, capping off the first day of action at the 5th annual Breezy Bishop Showcase at the Poly-Western complex.
Senior point guard Brya Freeland and sophomore forward Camille Calhoun led all scorers with 19 points for Spalding (5-1 overall), and senior guard Maggie Morrison scored eight of her 15 points in overtime. Keila Atkinson, Auteaonna Gilmore and Tyonna Williams each scored 10 points for Riverdale Baptist (6-2).
The Cavaliers answered Riverdale Baptist’s late regulation charge, outscoring the Upper Marlboro school, 15-4, in the overtime. Rosemond said his team’s veteran experience came to fore against the nation’s No. 16 team according to USA Today.
“They didn’t get rattled, they didn’t get flustered, they kept playing through it,” said Rosemond. “Thankfully, we got a reprieve.”
Gilmore missed the latter end of a two-shot foul with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation, extending the game. After a blowing a 12-point second half advantage, Spalding regrouped in overtime.
Freeland hit the front end of a two-shot foul, but the ball went off Riverdale Baptist in the chase for the rebound. The Cavaliers inbounded to Morrison, who drained a three pointer from the left corner for a 58-54 advantage.
Morrison answered a score by Atkinson with another three-pointer, extending the lead to 61-56. Another Morrison basket, sandwiched between three free throws by Freeland, put the Cavaliers in command, 66-56, with 30.1 seconds left in overtime.
“My teammates got me the ball at the right time so I kind of let it go,” said Morrison, who’s headed to Vanderbilt University. “My shots were falling in the beginning, but they went in in overtime.”
The Cavaliers appeared to be in control in regulation with a 45-33 advantage late in third quarter. Riverdale Baptist went on a 7-0 run to close to within 47-44 before Spalding owned a 54-48 lead with 2:18 remaining.
A three-pointer by Williams and layup by Gilmore following a three second violation on Spalding, made it 54-53 with 1:15 left. With 6.4 seconds, Spalding turned the ball on an inbounds near half court, and Gilmore was fouled on a drive to the basket. She made the first before the second hit off the back of the rim.
The Cavaliers return to Poly-Western Sunday for a matchup with Bishop Ford from New York. Rosemond believes Spalding deserves a spot with the nation’s elite programs.
“We had total confidence in ourselves and we wanted to show it to the basketball public,” said Rosemond. “We can play with anybody.”
CLICK RELATED VIDEOS TAB FOR SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
