Cardinals Fall in Final Home Game of the Year
In their final home game of the season, the CCBC Catonsville Cardinals men's basketball team fell short to the Lions of CCBC Dundalk by a score of 90-78.
While managing to keep the game close throughout, the Cardinals struggled with rebounds and fouls down the stretch, as three players fouled out in the final minutes.
The Cardinals started strong in the first half, pulling out to an early 9-4 lead. Sophomore guard Joacquin Gonzalez (McKinley Tech), making his final home start as a Cardinal, notched six points, three rebounds, and a steal in the first half.
The Lions managed to pull ahead thanks to a string of offensive fouls called against the Cardinals but were unable to establish a solid lead. Catonsville's stingy defense recorded eight steals in the half and capitalized each time. Freshman guard Damien Hopkins (Oakland Mills) came off the bench to net 12 points, including a three-pointer that tied the game at 38-38 entering the half.
The Cardinals established an uneasy lead to begin the second half, as the shooting of Gonzalez and freshman point guard Maurice Smith (Newtown) extended the lead to 47-39. It would be the largest lead of the night for the Cardinals, as Dundalk came roaring back to take the lead with 15 minutes to go.
The rest of the second half was full of frustration for the Cardinals. Catonsville struggled to take advantage of turnovers and got into serious foul trouble down the stretch. Gonzalez, Smith, and Hopkins all fouled out in the waning moments of the game, as Dundalk pulled away to win 90-78.
In his final home game as a Cardinal, Gonzalez finished the evening with 22 points and six rebounds. Smith netted a double-double, recording 12 points and 11 rebounds. Hopkins added 15 points, three steals, and three rebounds off the bench. Freshman guard Keith Bullock Jr. (Cardozo) led the team in assists with six, while also adding 12 points.
The Cardinals finish their season on Wednesday, February 23 when they face Montgomery College.
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