While trying to become the second straight D8 team to win the 32-team St. Benedict Invitational, the St. Mary's Eagles ran into a buzz-saw on Saturday evening at St. Benedict CSS in Cambridge.
He goes by the name of Grant Mullins.
Mullins, who will be playing NCAA D-1 basketball next year at Columbia, poured in 27 first-half points en route to a 42-point performance as the Irish pulled away in the second half to a 72-57 win over the St. Mary's Eagles in the tournament's championship final.
The slick-scoring Mullins got off to a 9-for-10 start from the floor, and finished 15-for-22 while making 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and all seven of his free-throw attempts. It was arguably the best single-game performance I have seen at a CWOSSA gym in recent memory.
The Eagles gave it everything they had, even after finishing up their tough battle against JF Ross only a couple of hours earlier. St. Mary's actually led 27-26 late in the first half, before Mullins went on a late run to have Notre Dame up 35-29 at halftime.
The Irish would extend to a 50-36 lead after three quarters, and would make timely baskets in the fourth to ensure a 72-57 victory.
The Irish (#6 in the Hooptowngta.com rankings) defeated another tough CWOSSA team, the WCI Vikings, 76-54 in the semifinals. At an earlier tournament this season, they doused the Resurrection Phoenix 69-42. Needless to say, they were the favourite in the final and played to their capabilities --- particularly on the offensive end in a very efficient performance.
The Irish finished shooting 55.6% from the floor (25 of 45) and converted all 14 free-throw attempts. For good measure, they were also 8-for-13 (61.5%) from three-point range.
Alongside Mullins' 42 points, Jordan Scott had 11 and Dan Dooley 8 for the Irish, who played just six players during the contest.
Alex Thompson, despite early foul trouble, finished with a team-high 19 for St. Mary's. Adam Voll had 13 and Isaac Lance added 8 more Eagle points.
Boxscore
SMHS 11-18-07-21 = 57
ND 21-14-15-22 = 72
St. Mary's
I. Lance 3-4 FG, 0-0 FT, 3 Reb, 3 Ast - 8 Pts.
H. Bankazo 0-7 FG, 5-6 FT, 3 Reb, 1 Ast - 5 Pts.
A. Thompson 7-13 FG, 3-5 FT, 3 Reb, 0 Ast - 19 Pts.
A. Voll 4-9 FG, 4-5 FT, 5 Reb, 1 Ast - 13 Pts.
Z. Hannah 1-3 FG, 0-0 FT, 1 Reb, 1 Ast - 2 Pts.
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T. Simon 2-5 FG, 0-0 FT, 0 Reb, 0 Ast - 5 Pts.
C. Cloutier 2-5 FG, 0-0 FT, 3 Reb, 1 Ast - 5 Pts.
D. Hibbert 0-0 FG, 0-0 FT, 1 Reb, 0 Ast - 0 Pts.
Field Goals: 19-46 (.413). Free-Throws: 12-16 (.750). Three-Point Goals: 7-16, .438: I. Lance 2-2, A. Thompson 2-4, A. Voll 1-1, C. Cloutier 1-2, T. Simon 1-3, H. Bankazo 0-2, Z. Hannah 0-2.
Burlington Notre Dame
M. Mullins 1-8 FG, 4-4 FT, 4 Reb, 1 Ast - 7 Pts.
D. Dooley 4-5 FG, 0-0 FT, 1 Reb, 1 Ast - 8 Pts.
G. Mullins 15-21 FG, 7-7 FT, 4 Reb, 3 Ast - 42 Pts.
J. Scott 3-6 FG, 3-3 FT, 9 Reb, 2 Ast - 11 Pts.
G. Owens 2-4 FG, 0-0 FT, 2 Reb, 1 Ast - 4 Pts.
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N. Mulligan 0-1 FG, 0-0 FT, 0 Reb, 0 Ast - 0 Pts.
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