Chris Olsen (left), picture from earlier this year, scored 11 points and played tough defense to help Mount St. Joe improve to 17-2.
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by Tim Lohrfink

Top-ranked Mount Saint Joseph ran its record to an impressive 17-2 after last night’s intense game with St. Frances. The Gaels, who had huge contributions from seniors Chris Olsen and Quentin Jones, avenged their only Baltimore area lost by defeating the visiting and No. 8 Panthers, 61-51, in this critical MIAA A Conference/Baltimore Catholic League encounter, before a huge crowd in Irvington.

St. Frances, looking for a repeat of its December 23 victory over the Gaels, started the contest on a 13-3 run. The Gaels, coming off a national loss to Oak Hill (VA) on Sunday in Massachusetts, appeared sluggish early.  However, coach Pat Clatchey eventually got his team motivated and the Gaels battled back to take their first lead, one minute into the third quarter.

While senior center Henry Sims led the team with 19 points, Olsen and Jones each had 11 points and their play helped St. Joe finish off the Panthers. Both played exceptional defense on St. Frances superstar Shawn Mosley, who is going to the University of Maryland next year. Together, they held Mosley to 21 points, and Mosley worked hard for each and every point because of their tough defense.

Senior Justin McCoy (eight points), junior Gerald Hill (five points), and sophomore Eric Atkins (seven points) also had an impact on the game with their ability to find shots for themselves as well as dish the ball out to the open Olsen and Jones.

"Chris Olsen really stepped up again tonight; he's steady and solid and keeps raising his level of play," said Clatchy.  "Quintin Jones had an unbelievable game.  He's the best sixth man in the area.  He does a lot of little things that help us win."
 
"I just try to do whatever I have to do to help us win," said Jones.  "I work hard to get open shots. "Sean Mosley is a great player; you've got to play him tough; we had to concentrate on him."

Olsen echoed those sentiments.
 
"Mosley is one of the best players in the league, and I had to work extra hard all night, and we tried to make him take tough shots," he said.

Complimenting Mosley’s effort were Wayne Sparrow, who chipped in nine points, Dante Holmes (seven) and Ronald Williams (eight).

Jones and McCoy hit back-to-back three pointers as St. Joe finally took the lead. After exchanging baskets, Olsen’s three point play in the fourth quarter fired up the student section at the Mount as he put the Gaels ahead by 10 and they never look back.

While the Gaels were upset that they didn’t come home with a win against Oak Hill over the weekend, they continued to play as a team, which helped a lot last night. The Gaels had plenty of pressure on the ball handlers of the Panthers and scored many points on offense from creating turnovers on defense.

The Gaels will now prepare for another MIAA A/BCL game at Calvert Hall this Friday. But first, they will get a well deserved break.

"I'm going to give these guys a day off tomorrow; they're really working hard," said Clatchy.  "We'll come in on Thursday and get ready for Calvert Hall."

St. Frances (16-8 overall) will play John Carroll on Friday.

Mount St. Joseph 61, St. Frances 51
St. Frances: Mosley 21, Holmes 7, Sparrow 9, Williams 8, Oquendo 4, Lewis 2.
Mount St. Joseph: Q. Jones 11, Sims 19, Atkins 7, McCoy 8, Hill 5, Olsen 11.