MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The boys Double A might be the Catholic League’s smallest division with just four schools, but it’s creating the most excitement.
With 10 days remaining on the schedule, three teams are knocking one another around to create a three-way tie at the top with identical 2-1 records: Lutheran North, Detroit Loyola and Dearborn Divine Child.
Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard, at 0-3, could play a spoiler’s role for any one of the trio hoping to win a division title. The Fighting Irish’s losses were by an average of nine points.
Here’s what’s on tap:
Friday, Feb. 7: Divine Child at Lutheran North, who beat the Falcons, 65-63, on a triple at the buzzer 10 days ago; Gabriel Richard at Loyola, who won their first match, 62-47.
Tuesday, Feb. 11: Loyola will seek revenge at Divine Child; Lutheran North at Gabriel Richard, who barely lost to North, 45-42, earlier.
Friday, Feb. 14: Lutheran North at Loyola, who beat the Mustangs, 68-57, Tuesday, Feb. 4; Divine Child at Gabriel Richard, who lost, 46-36, the first time they met.
About the Loyola-Lutheran North game:
“Now you got to see what we’re all about,” coach Dennis Morey II said after Loyola relentlessly grew a four-point lead at the half to eight points after three quarters and 11 for the final score.
“It came down to effort, attitude and teamwork,” Morey said. “That’s our motto this year: E-A-T. We came to play.”
Both teams played at a physical, up-tempo pace from start to finish.
Loyola (9-2) led all the way, by as much as nine points (17-8) midway through the first quarter and by 14 (59-45) at 4:41 of the fourth quarter.
Mustangs senior guard Caleb Hardies sank back-to-back threes to tie the score at 21-21 early in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, four times the Mustangs drew to within two points of Loyola but couldn’t muster any consistency on offense to take advantage of the opportunities.
Senior Mark Mayberry Jr., one of the smoothest players in the CHSL, set the table all game long for the Bulldogs, accumulating 28 points and 11 rebounds.
“They wanted it more,” said North coach Jeff DeMasse. “They had something like 17 offensive rebounds. So many second chances.”
The loss snapped Lutheran North’s perfect 10-0 record. It was the longest winning streak in DeMasse’s four years as varsity coach.
“Maybe we were a little tense,” DeMasse said. “I didn’t think so, but maybe.”
For Loyola, Eric Cox had nine points, Corey Jenkins eight, and Amare Stevens five and eight rebounds.
Hardies’ 15 points led North’s attack. Colin Moldenhauer had 14 and Cole McClelland 12 points and 10 rebounds.
