Chaminade secures spot at top of the MCC
Photo by Sid Hastings | Chaminade's Luke Bumgarner (left)and CBC's Danny Chastain (13) battle for a loose ball during Friday's game at CBC.
TOWN AND COUNTRY — Chaminade’s Luke Bumgarner had struggled since returning from an ankle injury a few games back. But on Friday, making his first start since his return, the junior guard had a career night in one of his team’s biggest games of the season.
Bumgarner scored a career-high 25 points and junior standout Bradley Beal scored 24 as Chaminade pulled out a 75-68 victory at rival CBC to clinch a share of the Metro Catholic Conference championship.
It marks the fourth straight year at the top of the MCC for Chaminade.
“Ever since I came back from spraining my ankle, I haven’t been the same,” Bumgarner said. “We needed a big game tonight. It wasn’t just me, it was everyone. We played great ‘D,’ never gave up any big runs. It’s nice to come in here and win the MCC four years in a row.”
Chaminade coach Kelvin Lee said winning four straight league titles is a credit to the Red Devils’ program.
“That’s what we’ve built,” Lee said. “It’s a tradition we’ve got going now and that’s what we wanted to accomplish when I took over the program. We wanted to dominate the MCC and at least win a state championship before we leave.”
The defending Missouri Class 5 champions, who are ranked fifth among area large schools, improved to 16-7 overall and 6-1 in league play with their sixth straight victory. The Red Devils, who avenged an earlier loss to CBC, have now won 10 of their last 12 games against the Cadets.
“We showed a lot of composure,” Lee said. “On a night when Bradley didn’t get 30 or maybe 40 points, the rest of my guys step up. Luke Bumgarner had a great game and T. Evans, those two guys stepped up big late in the game.”
That would be “Tevin” Evans, who came off the bench to score 13 points in the win, with seven points coming in the final 2 minutes, 3 seconds. Brendan Kelly had 11 rebounds. Giovanni Ferrara added nine rebounds.
CBC (16-6, 5-2 in league play), which is ranked eighth among large schools but has now lost three straight games, can still clinch a share of the league title with a victory over DeSmet next week and a Chaminade loss.
The Cadets had four players score in double figures. Seth Jackson led the way with 20 points, while Ryan Pierson scored 16, Darion Rackley had 14 and Cory McArthy added 12.
The score was tied 63-63 with 2:16 remaining, but Chaminade outscored CBC 12-5 the rest of the game — with Evans scoring seven points — to pull away for the victory.
“We gave ourselves a chance there at the end,” CBC coach Bob McCormack said.
