Entering the MIS State Tournament as a sixth seed, it was an accomplishment for McDonogh sophomore Logan Meister to even reach the semifinal round. But what he did next was huge for the Eagles.
Going toe-to-toe with second seeded Archbishop Curley senior Vince Scarinzi, Meister had already held one victory over his opponent, but close matches can go either way, so he knew what he had to do.
“I beat him last time and it was close,” Meister explained. “So I just knew I had to go out hard and bang with him.”
Going hard for the scoreless first minute, Meister took a one-point lead against Scarinzi with an escape, but the true action came in the third period.
Needing to ride Scarinzi for the full two minutes to earn the win, Meister was able to earn two back-points with a lift-finish into a turk, giving him the 3-1 lead and eventual win.
“He kept standing up so I decided to drop down to a double,” Meister recalled. “I was able lift him, put in a turk and put him on his back for two.
“The rest of the match I was just trying to make sure he didn’t, score. I wanted to stay on the offensive but not give up the lead.”
Meister, who beat third seeded Matt Laux of Georgetown Prep for his first quarterfinal upset, will now take on retunring state champ Cole Gallagher of Archbishop Spalding.
“I am glad,” Meister said upon learning his finals opponent. “I am ready for it.”
The MIS State Tournament Finals are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at the McDonogh School.
