St. Frances boys hoops rested and ready
While most of the top boys basketball teams were traveling to the various holiday tournaments, No. 1 St. Frances (7-0) took a low-key approach the past two weeks.
Since an 81-66 win over D.C.-based Friendship Academy on Dec. 20, the Panthers only time with the basketball has been among themselves at practice.
Talking with senior standouts Greg Lewis and R.J. Williams late last week, the team is chomping at the bit to get back on the floor. Coach Mark Karcher planned it that way.
"I want them rested and hungry," he said, looking ahead to the rest of the demanding season competing in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and the Baltimore Catholic League.
The Panthers and their No. 1 ranking will be tested immediately this week. On Tuesday, they travel to No. 3 Mount St. Joseph (12-3) for a 7 p.m. start before visiting No. 6 John Carroll (16-1) at 7:15 Friday night.
The Gaels, led by Trey Clinton, David Windsor and Brian Morton, went 2-1 in Virginia last week at the Benedictine Capital City Classic.
John Carroll traveled to New York last week and went 2-1 at the Stop DWI Holiday Classic. The Patriots, who have been led by guards Malcolm McMillan and Ronald Scott, came away with two wins before losing their first game of the season, 49-48, to New York's Thomas Jefferson on Thursday.
