by Tim Lohrfink

In a highly anticipated game, top-ranked Mount Saint Joseph beat the previously undefeated Loyola Blakefield, 50-42, last night in Irvington, to a league victory in both the MIAA A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League.

St. Joe senior center Henry Sims led the Gaels with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and he also had three assists, one steal and three blocks, which fired up the crowd full of students at the Mount. In addition, Sims got the student section going crazy with plenty of high-flying dunks. Sophomore Eric Atkins complimented Sims with 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and four steals. He also went 3-for-3 from beyond the three-point-line.

Other contributors to the Gaels win were seniors Justin McCoy, who had nine points, and Quentin Jones, who had four points and two steals and a block. In addition, sophomore John Stevenson had five points.

St. Joe (12-1 overall, 4-1 MIAA, 3-1 BCL) will next go against Archbishop Spalding this Friday in another huge MIAA and BCL match-up for the Gaels, as they will face former long-time Gael assistant Andy Bauer and his Cavaliers.

The Dons were coming off an impressive win against St. Frances, who they defeated 60-46 last Friday, but they couldn�t continue the momentum against a St. Joe defense, which produced numerous steals and created several fast-break opportunities.

Matt Rum had 13 points and James Davenport chipped in with 11 points, but Loyola never recovered from a 24-11 halftime deficit. The Dons� next game will be at home against Towson Catholic tonight at 7:00 pm.

In other action last night at the Mount, both the junior varsity team and the freshman team of the Gaels won to complete a dominant three-game sweep by the Gaels.

Mount St. Joseph 50, Loyola 42
Loyola: Davenport 11, Schittino 2, Rum 13, Kirby 3, Floyd 5, Stanwick 8. Totals 15 6-10 42.
Mount St. Joseph: Sims 17, Stephenson 5, Atkins 12, McCoy 9, Jones 4, Hill 2, Miller 1. Totals 18 11-22 50.
Half: Mount St. Joseph, 24-11.