Mount Carmel follows history with another shining moment

by Derek Toney

After a historic campaign last winter, the Mount Carmel basketball team has been the hunted this season. Despite some ups-and-downs, the Cougars know they have championship DNA.

Tuesday evening at UMBC’s Chesapeake Employees Insurance Arena, Mount Carmel showed it. The Cougars outlasted St. Frances, 59-57, in overtime to claim a second straight MIAA A Conference championship. 

Junior Mancho’s layup with 2.9 seconds left in the extra session was the difference for Mount Carmel (28-10 overall), which became the first team to win the area’s toughest boys basketball league in consecutive seasons since John Carroll (2011-2012).

Mount St. Joseph claimed A titles in the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons with the 2020-21 campaign being shelved because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The 2024-25 season was Mount Carmel’s finest with a first MIAA A title, followed by a Baltimore Catholic League tournament championship. The Cougars finished No. 1 in the area and state polls.

With four-year starters, Rodney Scott (Augusta University) and Mario Tatum (Virginia Military Institute), having graduated, Mount Carmel had to find new leadership this season.

“They were our glue guys,” said Cougar guard Tristen Wilson.

Wilson, Mancho and Gage Howard, the remaining starters from last season, were the steady pieces for another title effort Tuesday evening. The 6-foot-7 Howard, who was selected the game’s Most Valuable Player, led the Cougars with 16 points and added seven rebounds and an assist.

Wilson, who will play for Holy Cross next season, had nine points, six rebounds and a game-best 10 assists. After ripping away the ball off a St. Frances miss with eight seconds left in overtime, Wilson immediately went down the court.

He lofted the ball towards the basket where Mancho got it and put it off the glass. Mancho, a 6-8 junior known for his defense, finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and a block.

Mancho said the Cougars have gradually built trust.

“I think everybody thought we were the top team and that went to our heads a little bit,” said Mancho. “We had some losses that brought us back to reality…we had to trust our coach, we had to trust each other.”

The Cougars trailed 25-19 at halftime, but opened the final 16 minutes of regulation with a 17-7 run, capped with a Howard basket off an assist from Wilson, for a 36-32 advantage with 2:08 left in the third. Mount Carmel did a better job in its half court offense.

The Cougars led 49-44 with 2:37 left in regulation after another Howard/Wilson collaboration, but St. Frances rallied. The Panthers, seeking their first MIAA A crown since beating Mount St. Joseph in the 2023 finale at CEI Arena, forced overtime as a 3-point play from Carter Fisk tied the game with 34 seconds remaining in regulation.

St. Frances opened the overtime with a 3-pointer from Terrence Jones, and led, 57-55 following another 3-point play from Fisk with 1:23 left.

Fisk, who had a dominating 42-point effort in Thursday’s semifinal win against Mount St. Joseph, got a come-from-behind block on Cougars junior guard Samartine Hill. Hill recovered the ball and got it to sophomore Antwan Williams who scored with 33 seconds left for the game’s sixth deadlock.

After a St. Frances timeout with 28.3 seconds left, Brian McMahon was unable to convert a reverse layup. Wilson got the ball and found Mancho for the eventual game-winner.

Cougars coach Tony Martin was proud of his team’s resilience.

“The (locker) room was silent and I just made them understand that we’ve been back from worse and they had to believe in themselves,” said Martin, who led John Carroll to the previous MIAA A back-to-back. “I told them we’re going to ride with the ones we brought us to the dance, win or lose.”

Fisk led St. Frances (33-7) with 16 points and five assists, and sophomore Jaliel Spears added 13 and four rebounds. The Panthers, who split with Mount Carmel during the regular season, lost to the Cougars in last year’s A final.

St. Frances coach Nick Myles said the match lived up to the billing of arguably the Baltimore area’s two best teams.

“Championship games are about making plays and they made one more play than us,” said Myles. “The guys stepped up to the challenge…if we had a lack of effort and execution, I’d be upset. Both teams gave a great effort and you come up one possession short, it’s the cards you’re dealt.”

The Cougars and Panthers will regroup and prepare for the 56th Baltimore Catholic League Tournament, which starts Sunday at Loyola University’s Reitz Arena. St. Frances, the No. 1 seed, plays Loyola Blakefield and Mount Carmel (No. 2 seed) takes on St. Mary’s.

No MIAA A/BCL program has swept both titles in consecutive seasons. Mount Carmel is now in position to do just that.

“It was a great day,” said Wilson, wearing an MIAA championship t-shirt, “but we’re not done yet.”