Owls rally with a big fourth quarter, but St. Frances holds on.

by Joe DiBlasi

St. Frances led wire-to-wire in a crucial MIAA/BCL showdown with Towson Catholic, Sunday at St. Frances, and, despite a strong closing rush by Towson Catholic, the Panthers hung on for a 60-57 victory, yesterday in East Baltimore on Sunday.

St. Frances, behind 23 points from Sean Mosley, led by as much as 13 in the contest, as they handed the Owls their first league loss since the 2005-2006 season.  Anthony Oquindo also had a big afternoon with 14 points, including eight in the third period.

The Panthers led at the half 30-22, and they extended the lead to ten at the end of three quarters, but the Owls fought back, with 23 points in a furious fourth quarter  to make the game close.
 
The Panthers were just 10-for-23 from the line, but Mosley was 4-for-4 in the last quarter, and it aagin was his leadership that sealed the win for the Panthers.  

"We probably relaxed a little after we had that 13 point lead, but TC never stopped playing," said Mosley.  "We kind of had our heads down after the game, but we held on for the win, and that's important."

It is because if left the teams tied for first place in the BCL and allowed St. Frances (15-6, 7-1 MIAA, 5-1 BCL) to maintain its lead in the MIAA A Conference.
 
Vinny Breckenridge, who led the comeback with eight fourth quarter points, had 15 on the day for the Owls (9-8, 5-2 MIAA, 5-1 BCL).  Larry Bastfield barley missed a big three with ten seconds left, that would have cut the Panther lead to one.

St. Frances 60, Towson Catholic 57
SF   16   14   14   16   60
TC   10    12   12   23  57
 
St. Frances: Mosley   23,  Oquindo  14, Williams 5, Rogers 2, Holmes 6, Hamilton 4, Sparrow 6.
Towson Catholic: Greene 10, Bruce 11, Breckenridge 15, Spencer 5, Bastfield 5, Sizer 6, Hester 3, Thomas 2.
Half: St. Frances, 30-22.