John Carroll senior, Mount Carmel coach earn top basketball honors

Tom Rose of Mount Carmel (Coach of the Year), Calvert Hall’s Justin Gorham (Most Improved Player), Mount Carmel’s David Erebor (Defensive Player of the Year) and John Carroll’s Kimbal Mackenzie (Player of the Year) took top honors at the Baltimore Catholic League awards luncheon for eight boys’ basketball programs Feb. 16.  (Paul McMullen | CR Staff)

PIKESVILLE – A senior guard who led The John Carroll School to a share of the regular season championship and the coach who built Mount Carmel into a top-ranked contender in boys’ basketball were recognized at the Baltimore Catholic League annual awards luncheon Feb. 16.

Kimbal Mackenze, a Canadian who is headed to Bucknell University, was honored as Player of the Year. In leading the Patriots to an 11-3 regular season record that earned them a share of first place with Calvert Hall, Mackenzie averaged 15 points, three assists and three rebounds.

Mount Carmel’s Tom Rose was voted Coach of the Year by his peers. When the Cougars joined the BCL for the 2010-11 season, they were still in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference. They joined the A Conference just three seasons ago, and reached its final Feb. 15, when they lost to Calvert Hall.

Approximately 200 guests attended the luncheon at the Pikesville Doubletree Hotel. The guest speaker was Towson University coach Pat Skerry, whose institutions SECU Arena will be the site of the semifinals and championship game of the 44th annual BCL tournament (bracket below).

Players and coaches began the day with various service projects that benefited clients of Catholic Charities of Baltimore.

Calvert Hall and John Carroll have already earned invitations to the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament, which will be played March 12-14 at Frostburg State University. Bishop Walsh of Cumberland is the host school, and the Archdiocese of Baltimore could merit another invitation, based on the results of the BCL tournament.

 

Jerry Savage Player of the Year – Kimbal Mackenzie, John Carroll, senior

O. Ray Mullis Coach of the Year – Tom Rose, Mount Carmel

Mark Amatucci Defensive Player of the Year – David Erebor, Mount Carmel, junior

Cokey Robertson Most Improved Player – Justin Gorham, Calvert Hall, junior

 

Kimbal Mackenzie, John Carroll, senior; Will Jenkins, Mount Carmel, senior; Drew Edwards, Calvert Hall, senior; Daquan Bracey, St. Frances Academy, junior; Nico Clareth, Calvert Hall, senior

 

Randy Miller, Mount St. Joseph, junior; Tobias Christensen, St. Maria Goretti, senior; Elijah Long, John Carroll, senior; Evan Phoenix, Calvert Hall, senior; Ameka Akaya, St. Maria Goretti, junior

 

Joshua Ayeni, St. Frances Academy, senior; Frank Webb, Mount Carmel, senior; Justin Gorham, Calvert Hall, junior; Brian Jefferson, Mount Carmel, senior; Montez Mathis, Mount Carmel, freshman

Honorable Mention 

 

Kurk Lee, St. Frances Academy; Khalil Richard, St. Frances Academy; Justin Kane, Archbishop Spalding; Andrew Fava, Loyola Blakefield; Ryan Floyd, Loyola Blakefield

Dave Kropfelder “Never, Never Quit” Awards: Christian Plowman, Archbishop Spalding; TJ Duckett, Calvert Hall; Mateus Maccieri, John Carroll; Ryan Floyd, Loyola Blakefield; Lloyd Meeks, Mount Carmel; Jalen Smith, Mount St. Joseph; Tairik Johnson, St. Frances Academy; Connor Zinaich, St. Maria Goretti.

Seed in parentheses

at Mount St. Joseph Feb. 19

Calvert Hall (2) vs. Archbishop Spaldling (7), 5 p.m.

John Carroll (1) vs. Loyola Blakefield (8), 7 p.m.

at Calvert Hall Feb. 20

Mount Carmel (3) vs. Mount St. Joseph (6), 5 p.m.

St. Frances Academy (4) vs. St. Maria Goretti (5), 7 p.m.

1-8 winner vs. 4-5 winner, 5:30 p.m.

2-7 winner vs. 3-6 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

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