Quakers deny C Conference foe; DeSmit scores game-high 18

Though its early December, Friends School boys' basketball team's thinks it's the start of something big.

The Quakers defeated Chapelgate Christian, 46-39, in a MIAA non-league matchup Monday evening. At 3-1, Friends is on track to surpass its 5-15 showing last season.

"We've been winning ugly, but at least we're winning," said Quakers coach Brian Anglim. The Charles Street school has victories over Beth Tfiloh and CHEN, with McDonogh School as its lone setback.

Junior guard Ryan DeSmit had a game-high 18 points for Friends, and senior backcourt mate Justin Prushansky contributed 12. Aaron McCall led Chapelgate (5-3) with 14 points.

Trailing 40-25 with three minutes, 22 seconds remaining in regulation, Chapelgate got to within 43-39 with 22.9 seconds left. DeSmit and senior Joe Richardson converted free throws in the waning moments for the Quakers. Anglim said the team is slowly rounding into basketball shape as DeSmit, Richardson, Prushansky, senior Tommy Goldman and sophomore David Goldman played on the Quaker soccer squad that reached the MIAA B title game last month.

"Offensively, we're a little bit behind," said Anglim. "We've been forced to win defensively, and that's what we've been doing. The offense is starting to come along, I finally got Ryan [DeSmit] starting to hit threes. He just hasn't shot the ball for three months."

"We got right back in it. They gave us three days, but we're kind of trying to get back into basketball mode," said DeSmit, whose team lost to Boys' Latin in the soccer finals. "Soccer seemed like two days ago."

DeSmit continued finding his perimeter touch Monday, scoring 16 points in the final 16 minutes. His three-pointer in the third quarter started a 13-1 run that gave Friends a 32-21 cushion with 6:20 remaining in the game. DeSmit's third trey of the half followed by a layup by Tommy Goldman off an assist by Prushansky gave the Quakers a 15-point margin, but turned the ball over on five of the next six possessions.

Chapelgate Christian took advantage with Mike Lovaas hitting a three-pointer to spark a 10-0 surge he capped with a pair of free throws with 90 seconds left. A layup by Ji Min Jeong (11 points) brought the Marriottsville school to within four, but the Yellow Jackets got no closer.

"We're in the C Conference, they're in the B Conference so there's no pressure on us," said Chapelgate Christian coach Frick Frierson, whose team dropped its second straight after a 5-1 start. "We're small and we can trap these bigger teams sometimes to give us a little advantage."

Chapelgate Christian trailed 13-5 after the opening quarter before closing to 17-14 at halftime. A layup and free throw by sophomore Taylor McCarl gave the Yellow Jackets their first and only lead at 20-19 midway in the third quarter.

Friends has another C Conference match (Wednesday at Park School) before starting league play at Gilman School next Tuesday and last season's league finalist Mount Carmel (Dec. 18). Anglim thinks the Quakers have the potential to reach the postseason for the first time in four seasons.

"They're really hungry to get back," said Anglim, who had Prushansky, Richardson and Tommy Goldman on the roster. "It was a really special thing for the school to make the playoffs for the first time. They're really hungry for it."
 
Friends School 46, Chapelgate Christian 39
Chapelgate Christian: McCall 14, Jeong 11, Lovaas 8, Orlando 1, McCarl 3, Leatherwood 2. Totals 13 8-16 39.
Friends: Prushansky 12, Richardson 6, Goldman 2, DeSmit 18, Schmidt 8. Totals 17 9-15 46.

Chapelgate      5 9  7  18-39
Friends          13 4 11 18-46