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Cabrini beats Neumann to claim first CSAC title since 2014

02/25/2018, 1:30am EST
By Owen McCue

Cabrini celebrates the 2018 CSAC championship. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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When Tim McDonald took over the Cabrini program four years ago after the departure of Marcus Kahn, he took over a team coming off its fifth straight Colonial States Athletic Conference title.

He also took over a roster with just five returning players after losing five seniors and seeing several others transfer. Even with a team filled with 10 freshmen, he felt he could continue the run he had been a part of for four years an assistant.

Instead, the Cavaliers lost to Neumann in overtime in the CSAC championship, ending their streak of consecutive conference crowns.

“We had won five championships in a row, and it was something I thought was just going to be able to carry over, but it didn’t,” McDonald said.

Maybe McDonald was naïve in thinking he could just carry over the success of the past regime. Maybe he was just unlucky.

A half-court shot to beat the buzzer at the end of regulation sent the game into overtime, dooming McDonald and his squad that first year. In the two years after, Cabrini’s CSAC title hopes were crushed in similar ways, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the semifinal against Gwynned Mercy last season.

Finally, on Saturday night on Cabrini’s home court, against a familiar opponent, McDonald was able to celebrate a CSAC championship victory. The Cavaliers made sure there was no drama, getting revenge on Neumann with an 89-76 win for the program’s 14th CSAC title.

“We had three years where we didn’t win,” McDonald said.  “Being back here tonight was something special, winning my first as head coach. It’s really special with this group.”

Helped by 17 first half points from junior forward Anthony Wright-Downing, Cabrini led 42-36 at halftime.  The Cavs came out of the break firing, knocking down three threes, including two from freshman guard D.J. Smith, to build a 51-38 lead a little more than two minutes into the second half.

Then came a 14-3 run by Neumann to make it a 54-52 game with 12:58 left after freshman forward Aaron Johnson-Chavis put back an offensive rebound. Wright-Downing was not finished though. He scored 12 of Cabrini’s next 18 points to put the Cavaliers up by 15 with 9:21 left in the game.

Wrgiht-Downing finished with 32 points, six rebounds, five steals, three blocks and an assist to take home the game’s MVP honors.

“I’m kind of used to playing in front of a big crowd,” Wright-Downing said. “I’ve done that all my life. But to do it in college, and win MVP, that’s major for me.”

Just two players from McDonald’s first team in 2014-15 saw the floor on Saturday night. Senior forward Tyheim Monroe, the two-time CSAC Player of the Year, was a freshman on that team. Senior forward Deryl Bagwell was a sophomore. He received another year of eligibility after missing the entire 2015-16 season with a foot injury.

During the final stretch of the season, the two expressed a sense of urgency, knowing they’d only have one more shot at a CSAC title before they left. Bagwell said they texted frequently, expressing how much they wanted the CSAC crown and made sure every drill in practice was taken seriously.

“We were really engaged because we don’t want to lose in our last year just like any other seniors,” Bagwell said.

The Cavaliers were without their two senior leaders for a stretch during the second half of Saturday’s game. Monroe, who had 17 points and 13 rebounds, picked up his fourth foul with 8:34 left in the game. At the time of his exit, Cabrini led by 14. Bagwell picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench with 6:28 left in the half and the Cavaliers still leading by the same margin.

When they both returned at the 3:34 mark, the Cavaliers had not just maintained the lead, but even expanded it to 15 and the game was pretty much out of reach. All that was left to do was run down the remaining ticks on the clock.

A smile began to creep over Monroe’s face with just under a minute left. When the Cavaliers got possession with less than 30 seconds remaining and the shot clock off, the ball was in Bagwell’s hands. He dribbled all over the court, jumping in the air, not even waiting for the final buzzer to sound before starting to celebrate.

Monroe saw Bagwell and couldn’t hold it in either.

"We both wanted it so bad just like the rest of the team,” Monroe said. “He was jumping around so happy and he got me even more excited from jumping around. I don’t know what to think of this moment. I’m just so happy.”

Cabrini will now head to the NCAA Division III tournament. The Cavaliers put in a bid to host a first round game, something they haven't done since they were the Diviion III runner-up in 2013-14.

They lost in the road to Lycoming College in the first round last year, but feel more confident this season.

"As a senior that's the perfect way to go out," Bagweel said. "But we still got the tournament, and we'll probably going to be hosting. We're not trying to host and lose. We're actually trying to win. I don't know. I think we can sneak up on a lot teams."


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