The loss of forward Chucky Lee to a season-ending knee injury caused No. 5 Cardinal Gibbons basketball coach Ray Mullis to do some reshuffling, and the result has been an outstanding three-guard tandem for the Crusaders (9-4).
Seniors Ross Peacock and Casey Musick and junior Quintin Moody have helped keep the Crusaders among the contenders in the Maryland Scholastic Association A Conference and the Catholic League, despite the team's lack of height.
Musick and Moody mirror each other with their accurate long-range shots and slashing drives. Musick averages a team-high 24.8 points, and Moody averages 19.1.
"Last year, I only averaged about 14 points a game, but coach has given me and Quintin the green light on offense," Musick said after scoring 23 to lead the Crusaders past Loyola, 75-62, Friday.
Peacock, a slick ball-handler, runs the offense with poise.
The downside for Gibbons is on defense, where Peacock (6 feet), Musick (5-11) and Moody (5-10) have to spend time up front against bigger opponents.
So far, Gibbons has offset the size disadvantage by relying on quickness and aggressiveness.
The Crusaders lead the MSA A Conference Division II by a half-game over Lake Clifton.
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No. 10 Walbrook (6-2) and Eastern Vo-Tech (6-2), two basketball teams trying to remain contenders in leagues in which at least two other teams are favored, face difficult tasks this week.
Walbrook (3-1 in the league) plays host to top-ranked Dunbar (11-1, 3-0) at 5:30 p.m. today at the Community College of Baltimore in an MSA A Conference, Division I game. Friday, the Warriors will meet No. 3 Lake Clifton (6-1, 2-0) in a non-league game at 3:30 p.m.
EVT's Baltimore County 3A-4A league game at No. 11 Woodlawn (5-3, 5-2), scheduled for yesterday but postponed because of the snow, will be played today at 3:30. The Mavericks (5-1 in the league) travel to Randallstown (6-4, 4-4) tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. and to No. 6 Catonsville (9-0, 7-0) Friday at 8 p.m.
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Overtime: St. Mary's surprising 57-46 win over Seton Keough on Friday marked the first time after 35 straight wins that Seton Keough lost a Catholic League game since Seton and Keough merged three years ago. The loss also broke a 47-game Catholic League winning streak for Seton Keough coach Trish Cook.
