DETROIT — “You bet!”

That was coach Pat Donnelly’s retort to the observation that if Orchard Lake St. Mary’s was going to take home the Catholic League’s Central-AA (Bishop) trophy that University of Detroit Jesuit had won for the last seven years, he wasn’t going to make it easy for them.

The Cubs did that, but they couldn’t seal the deal.

Leading by 14 points three minutes into the third quarter, the Eaglets went on a 36-17 tear over the game’s remaining 13 minutes for a 61-54 victory, ending a 12-year drought (last win 2008; 11th overall) in this esteemed CHSL championship series that has roots going back to 1947.

In the opening game of the doubleheader at the University of Detroit Mercy’s Calihan Hall, Riverview Gabriel Richard methodically built an 18-point lead with about six minutes to play, only to see it evaporate to four points in a hectic climax before it could claim a 63-56 victory over Marine City Cardinal Mooney for the Intersection Division (Cardinal) trophy.

It was the Pioneers’ second-ever CHSL championship win. The first came at the tail end of the last century, in 1999.

'Bowman, Bowman, Bowman'

Led by their freshman point guard sensation, Sonny Wilson, and senior forward JT Morgan’s domination of the backboard, the Cubs built a 28-23 halftime lead and enlarged it to 39-25 within the first three minutes of the third quarter.

“When was the last time St. Mary’s trailed by 14 points?” coach Todd Covert was asked.

“Never. Not this year,” he said.

Mr. Basketball candidate Lorne Bowman shook off some uncharacteristic shooting woes, particularly from the free-throw line, drawing a murmur from the crowd when he missed four free throws in a row at the start of the game.

He regained his touch and wound up a subpar 10-for-17 for the game.

“Lorne is the most coachable player I’ve ever had,” Covert said. “I don’t worry about him. I tell him to follow the process he uses and that it’ll all straighten out.”

The Wisconsin commit scored 20 of his game-high 28 points during the Eaglets’ 36-17 run.

He made game-defining shots at critical moments: a triple to put the Eaglets ahead, 47-46, to erase 46-40 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter, another three two minutes later that gave St. Mary’s a 51-50 lead they never relinquished, and six of the team’s final nine points.

“That’s what a Mr. Basketball does,” said Donnelly, who had a Mr. Basketball, Cassius Winston, on his roster four years ago. “He makes winning plays. He gets my vote.”

About his own team, Donnelly said. “We’re young. We’ve learned a lot and have improved a lot.”

About Wilson, who led the Cubs with 20 points: “He doesn’t play like a freshman. He runs our show. I love his aggressiveness.”

Covert expressed in three words what he thought made the difference in the game: “Bowman, Bowman, Bowman. He’s the best player in Michigan, no question.”

Are the Eaglets, ranked among the top three in Division 1, the best team in Michigan?

“Yes,” Covert said. “We have played the toughest schedule of anyone. We’ve played seven of the top 40 teams, three against top 10 teams. The best? That’ll be determined at the end of the season.”

Morgan had 14 points for the Cubs and 10 rebounds.

For St. Mary’s, junior Julian Roper had 15 and sophomore Kareen Rozier 8. 

'Maybe, it was nerves'

Gabriel Richard was pretty much in control on both sides of the ball.

Junior forward Michael Holdsclaw took charge of the offense on his way to a game-high 26-point performance, and sophomore forward Michael Calhoun had a strong second half with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Cardinals were baffled attempting to solve a Richard defense they had come up against in two league games, both won by Richard, so much so that Mooney coach Mike McAndrews barked, “What are you doing out there?”

“Maybe, it was nerves,” McAndrews said, “playing in this environment.”

Richard tripled its six-point lead, 23-17, at the half to 18 points, 50-32.

The suddenly rejuvenated Cardinals embarked on a 19-5 rampage to get within four points with only 93 seconds remaining to play.

Mooney unleashed an air attack: four triples — one apiece by Nick Bastian and Jacob Marshell and a couple by the team’s leading scorer, senior Nolan Julio.

Three times Mooney got to within four points: 55-51 and 58-54 on Julio’s three-pointers. Kevin Everhart sank two free throws to keep Mooney’s hopes alive, 60-56, with 38.6 seconds to play.

Richard found itself fighting for survival. They did it from the free-throw line. Their final 13 points came via one basket and 11 free throws, seven by Holdsclaw.

Richard was 23-for-39 from the charity stripe compared to 11-of-12 for Mooney.

Julio totaled 23 points (he had four of the team’s nine 3s) and Marshell 11. 

Operation Friendship — boys

The 61st Operation Friendship between the champion boys teams of the CHSL and the Detroit Public School League will take place Thursday, March 5, at Calihan Hall. 

U-D Jesuit (12-7) will tip off at 5:30 p.m. against Detroit Douglass (15-4) followed at 7 p.m. by St. Mary’s (18-1) taking on Detroit Cass Tech (17-1).

The Public Schools lead the series 43-17.

Operation Friendship — girls

A week ago, in the Girls Operation Friendship, CHSL champion Farmington Hills Mercy lost to Detroit Renaissance 44-32 while runner-up Bloomfield Hills Marian defeated Cass Tech 45-36.

Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].