All
year, St. Mary’s was considered, by some, as the fourth team in a four
team race for the MIAA B Conference title.  Like a true champion,
however, the Saints made their move to the top at exactly the right
time, capping that charge last night with a 76-70 win over defending
champion Mount Camel, in the B Conference title game at Johns Hopkins
Universityâ??s Goldfarb Gymnasium.

Senior Josh Hartman, who
transferred to St. Maryâ??s from Archbishop Spalding prior to last
season, led all scorers with 24 points.  Hartman, who will play for
Messiah College next season, converted eight free throws in the final
quarter helping St. Maryâ??s deny Mount Carmel (19-13) of a second
straight B Conference championship and a third straight title overall.

â??Everybody
stepped up on different nights,� said Hartman, who added five rebounds
and two assists. â??If I wasnâ??t on or [Josh] Morgan-Green wasnâ??t on, the
younger players would step up. We just played as a family.�

The
Saints (24-7) were solid in the closing quarter withstanding several
Mount Carmel surges. The Cougars were within 66-63 with 93-seconds
remaining in regulation after a jumper off the glass from Dwayne
Wheeler, but Hartman hit two free throws. That was followed by two from
sophomore Trey Quinn after a Mount Carmel turnover.

In the
final two minutes, St. Maryâ??s was 9-of-12 from the charity stripe. 
Beating an opponent three times in a season is usually difficult, but
the Saints were able to pull the feat against Mount Carmel this season.

â??Itâ??s
our first time here and weâ??re trying to get a little experience,â? said
Morgan-Green. â??That run at the end, they have those guards who are so
good.�

A junior, Morgan-Green was arguably the leagueâ??s best
guard this season, leading the B Conference in scoring.  In three games
against Mount Carmel, Green tallied 70 points, including 15 in the
title game.

After Mount Carmel had pulled to within one early in
the final quarter, Green (three rebounds and three steals) scored
consecutive baskets, and the Saints extended their advantage to eight
midway in the final quarter. The Annapolis school, which won the B
title in the 2002-2003 season, never trailed after the middle of the
opening period.    

Troy Franklin led Mount Carmel with 17
points, but fouled out with 1:45 remaining in the regulation, and
Ceslovas Kucinskas had 11 points and nine rebounds. The Cougars, trying
to become only the second team to win three consecutive basketball
championships, missed on four opportunities to either tie or gain the
lead in the fourth quarter.    

â??We missed some free throws, but
you got to give St. Maryâ??s credit,â? said Cougars coach Tom Rose. â??They
made plays when they had to make them, and in championship games,
thatâ??s the teams who are going to win.â?

St. Maryâ??s second-year
coach Brian Konik said a victory over rival Severn School in late
December was the critical point for the Saints.  They claimed 19 of
their final 21 decisions, losing only to Annapolis and John Carroll, a
lost they avenged Tuesday on the road in the semifinals.

The
Saints said they never felt slighted with the talk about their league
foes during the season. They admit they donâ??t have the talent or
athleticism of many teams, but St. Maryâ??s proved its sum is greater
than its parts.

â??These kids donâ??t quit. They have a tremendous
amount of confidence,� said Konik, whose team won its final seven
games.  â??We really try to emphasize we canâ??t beat them [Mount Carmel]
one-on-one.  Itâ??s got to be all five of them working together, and we
were able to squeak one out.�