Conwell-Egan boys capture District 12 Class 2A crown
After a disappointing loss in the Catholic League playoffs, Conwell-Egan had plenty of time to stew. The Eagles were idle for more than two weeks before the District 12 Class 2A championship game Friday night at St. Joseph's University's Hagan Arena.
After a disappointing loss in the Catholic League playoffs, Conwell-Egan had plenty of time to stew.
The Eagles were idle for more than two weeks before the District 12 Class 2A championship game Friday night at St. Joseph's University's Hagan Arena.
Behind senior forward LaPri McCray-Pace's 20 points, the defending state-champion Eagles clawed Mastery North, 70-58, to capture a second consecutive city championship.
"The last two weeks of practice have been [intense]," McCray-Pace said. "People were fighting, arguing, and going back and forth. But we brought it in and people played a lot of big minutes for us."
Senior forward Vinny Dalessandro finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots. Junior guard Ka'ron Johnson added 14 points while sophomore wing Eric Esposito added 13 for the Eagles (15-9).
Daeqwon Plowden led Mastery North (23-3) with 19 points and seven rebounds. Rodney Ross added 15 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
For Conwell-Egan, which led, 37-28, at halftime, the game must have been a welcome relief from more than a fortnight of feisty practices.
"The last two weeks were like military school," McCray-Pace said, laughing. "It was the real deal. There was a lot of running, talking, and communicating. It was the best thing we could have had."
In the Eagles' first-round PCL loss to Bonner-Prendergast, McCray-Pace had the ball stolen from him by Christian Lane, who converted the winning layup with 10.7 seconds left.
That win was the Friars' first postseason victory since 2011.
"After the loss, I blamed it on me," McCray-Pace said. "The last three minutes of the game I didn't have the ball in my hands and isolated myself from it. This time, I told myself I had to have the ball even if I turned it over."
With the departure of team MVP Stevie Jordan (transferred) before this season, the Eagles look to defend their state title when the first round begins March 5.
"Actually, I don't consider us as defending champs because people didn't think we would get to this point," McCray-Pace said. "One of our best players [Jordan] - the 2A player of the year - left. Everyone doubted us. But I told a reporter earlier this season that we would be back competing."
Conwell-Egan 16 21 10 23 - 70
Mastery North 11 17 11 19 - 58
C: LaPri McCray-Pace 20, Vinny Dalessandro 15, James Leible 2, Eric Esposito 13, Ka'ron Johnson 14, Daniel Green 5, Drew Burton 1.
MN: Daeqwon Plowden 19, Asa Kitchen 7, Eli Alvin 9, Rodney Ross 15, Benford Jones 3, Eric Spann 5.
