Baltimore Catholic League
Encyclopedia
The Baltimore Catholic League (BCL), locally known as the Catholic League is a competitive basketball association composed of private Catholic
high schools in the Baltimore, Maryland geographic area.
It is alleged that the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
(WCAC) was the model for the BCL. The BCL was originally composed of most of the schools in the list below; with the most recent addition being The John Carroll School in 2010-11. Our Lady of Mount Carmel will join the league for the 2011-12 season. At different times during the league's history, Archbishop Curley High School
has been a member.
The Cardinal Gibbons School
has the most BCL championships to date. O. Ray Mullis, head coach at Cardinal Gibbons, has the most all-time wins of any coach in Baltimore City history (621 wins) while simultaneously claiming the most BCL championships. Other notable coaches in the league included Mark Amatucci, formerly of Calvert Hall College
, who won a national championship in the early 80s; Cokey Robertson, formerly of St. Maria Goretti High School
, Pat Clatchey, of Mount Saint Joseph High School
, William Wells, formerly of (St.Frances Academy) and Jerry Savage, formerly of Loyola Blakefield
.
(MIAA). Seven of the 8 teams participate in the MIAA A Conference, which results in each team playing each other twice, once home and once away. St. Maria Goretti is the only member of the BCL that does not participate in the MIAA; however, one school participates in the MIAA 'A' conference, but does not participate in the BCL: McDonogh School
.
After the conclusion of the season, the BCL sponsors a league tournament held at Loyola College
's Reitz Arena
. The event usually occurs after the MIAA Conference Championship with all 8 teams of the league participating. It is a single-elimination tournament
with 4 quarterfinal matchups, 2 semi-final games, and a championship game. The Junior Varsity (JV) teams also play in the tournament; however, it is not played at Loyola College. Each game of the JV tournament is held at the home of the higher seed.
Check BCLbasketball.com for radio schedule on the 2008-2009 campaign.
The 2009-10 BCL Game of the Week will again be aired on Fox 1370 Sports. Check baltimorecatholicleague.com for the upcoming schedule.
Towson Catholic Owls:
Calvert Hall Cardinals:
Spalding Cavaliers:
Gibbons Crusaders:
Goretti Gaels
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
high schools in the Baltimore, Maryland geographic area.
History
The BCL was founded in 1972, after the Baltimore high school basketball season culminated with Mt. St. Joseph High School defeated Dunbar High School in the MSA Championship game. This game is known as one of the most remarkable and controversial games in Baltimore high school basketball history. The impetus for the creation of the BCL arrived in the off-season. The goal was to make a separate division from the MSA, which is the league for all high school athletics in the Baltimore area, public or private. The BCL created a division that was strictly for Baltimore area Catholic High Schools.It is alleged that the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference or WCAC is a major high school athletic league for boys, girls, and co-ed Catholic high schools located around and in Washington, DC, USA...
(WCAC) was the model for the BCL. The BCL was originally composed of most of the schools in the list below; with the most recent addition being The John Carroll School in 2010-11. Our Lady of Mount Carmel will join the league for the 2011-12 season. At different times during the league's history, Archbishop Curley High School
Archbishop Curley High School
Archbishop Curley High School, is a Roman Catholic men's high school located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore in the USA. It is affiliated with the Franciscan religious order and is named in honor of Archbishop Michael J. Curley , who served as the tenth Archbishop of Baltimore from...
has been a member.
The Cardinal Gibbons School
Cardinal Gibbons School
The Cardinal Gibbons School, also referred to as Cardinal Gibbons, CG and most commonly as Gibbons, was a Roman Catholic high school and middle school for boys in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A...
has the most BCL championships to date. O. Ray Mullis, head coach at Cardinal Gibbons, has the most all-time wins of any coach in Baltimore City history (621 wins) while simultaneously claiming the most BCL championships. Other notable coaches in the league included Mark Amatucci, formerly of Calvert Hall College
Calvert Hall College High School
Calvert Hall College High School is a Catholic college preparatory high school for boys located in Towson, Maryland, United States...
, who won a national championship in the early 80s; Cokey Robertson, formerly of St. Maria Goretti High School
St. Maria Goretti High School
Saint Maria Goretti High School is a private, Roman Catholic day school located in Hagerstown, MD. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, within the tri-state areas of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Western Maryland, and Southern Pennsylvania.- Who and where :Saint...
, Pat Clatchey, of Mount Saint Joseph High School
Mount Saint Joseph College
Mount Saint Joseph High School, is a private, Catholic high school located in Baltimore, Maryland in the community of Irvington. The campus consists of four academic buildings, an athletic field house, and housing for the school's chaplains. It was founded by the Xaverian Brothers in November 1876...
, William Wells, formerly of (St.Frances Academy) and Jerry Savage, formerly of Loyola Blakefield
Loyola Blakefield
Loyola Blakefield is a Catholic, college preparatory school established by the Society of Jesus, to educate men for others. The ideal Loyola graduate is a man of integrity who, because he strives "to find God in all things," is open to growth, dedicated to academic excellence, religious, committed...
.
Scheduling
The league works in cooperation with the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic AssociationMaryland Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association is a boys' sports conference for private high schools generally located in the Baltimore metropolitan area but extending to various other regions, including the state's mostly rural Eastern Shore. The MIAA has 27 member schools and offers...
(MIAA). Seven of the 8 teams participate in the MIAA A Conference, which results in each team playing each other twice, once home and once away. St. Maria Goretti is the only member of the BCL that does not participate in the MIAA; however, one school participates in the MIAA 'A' conference, but does not participate in the BCL: McDonogh School
McDonogh School
McDonogh School is a private, coeducational, K-12, college-preparatory school founded in Owings Mills, Maryland, USA in 1873.- History :The school was established near Baltimore, Maryland in 1873 and funded by the estate of John McDonogh, a former Baltimore resident, who died in 1850...
.
After the conclusion of the season, the BCL sponsors a league tournament held at Loyola College
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
's Reitz Arena
Reitz Arena
Reitz Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Baltimore, Maryland. It is home to the Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the Loyola women's volleyball team. Prior to 2008-2009, Reitz Arena's capacity was listed at 3,000, but a seating renovation during the...
. The event usually occurs after the MIAA Conference Championship with all 8 teams of the league participating. It is a single-elimination tournament
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
with 4 quarterfinal matchups, 2 semi-final games, and a championship game. The Junior Varsity (JV) teams also play in the tournament; however, it is not played at Loyola College. Each game of the JV tournament is held at the home of the higher seed.
BCL Game of the Week
Beginning with the 2006-2007 season, RC Sports Productions broadcasts a Baltimore Catholic League Game of the Week on Fox 1370 Sports Radio (formerly V1370) WVIE in Pikesville, Baltimore.Check BCLbasketball.com for radio schedule on the 2008-2009 campaign.
The 2009-10 BCL Game of the Week will again be aired on Fox 1370 Sports. Check baltimorecatholicleague.com for the upcoming schedule.
Participating Schools
- St. Frances Academy
- Calvert Hall College High SchoolCalvert Hall College High SchoolCalvert Hall College High School is a Catholic college preparatory high school for boys located in Towson, Maryland, United States...
- Loyola BlakefieldLoyola BlakefieldLoyola Blakefield is a Catholic, college preparatory school established by the Society of Jesus, to educate men for others. The ideal Loyola graduate is a man of integrity who, because he strives "to find God in all things," is open to growth, dedicated to academic excellence, religious, committed...
- St. Maria Goretti High SchoolSt. Maria Goretti High SchoolSaint Maria Goretti High School is a private, Roman Catholic day school located in Hagerstown, MD. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, within the tri-state areas of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Western Maryland, and Southern Pennsylvania.- Who and where :Saint...
- Archbishop Spalding High SchoolArchbishop Spalding High SchoolArchbishop Spalding High School is a private, Catholic co-educational high school located in Severn, Maryland. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore. Most of its students live in Annapolis, Crownsville, Arnold, Pasadena, Severna Park, Crofton, Millersville, Glen Burnie, or...
- Mount Saint Joseph CollegeMount Saint Joseph CollegeMount Saint Joseph High School, is a private, Catholic high school located in Baltimore, Maryland in the community of Irvington. The campus consists of four academic buildings, an athletic field house, and housing for the school's chaplains. It was founded by the Xaverian Brothers in November 1876...
- The John Carroll SchoolThe John Carroll SchoolThe John Carroll School, established in 1964, is a private, independent, college-preparatory, co-educational Catholic school for grades 9–12, located on in Bel Air, Maryland...
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel High SchoolOur Lady of Mount Carmel High School (Baltimore, Maryland)Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School is a Roman Catholic-high school in Essex, Baltimore County, Maryland. It is in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore. The school was established in 1959 to serve the students of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and surrounding parishes. As of 2007, the...
- John Carroll and Mount Carmel were added to the BCL following the closing of Towson Catholic and Cardinal Gibbons in 2009 and 2010.
Notable BCL alumni
Many former BCL players later played collegiate basketball at NCAA schools, and these former BCL players later joined the NBA:Towson Catholic Owls:
- Donte GreeneDonté GreeneDonté Dominic Greene is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA...
'07: NBA Sacramento KingsSacramento KingsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, NCAA Syracuse Orange - Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo AnthonyCarmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
'02: NBA Denver NuggetsDenver NuggetsThe Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, NCAA Syracuse Orange via Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)Oak Hill Academy is a co-educational, private Baptist-affiliated secondary school in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, United States. Oak Hill's enrollment of approximately 150 students is 98% boarders, serving grades 8–12...
Calvert Hall Cardinals:
- Juan DixonJuan DixonJuan Dixon is an American professional basketball player. Dixon led the University of Maryland Terrapins to their first NCAA championship in 2002 and earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the 2002 Final Four.-Early life:...
'98: NBA Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
, Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
and Washington WizardsWashington WizardsThe Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, NCAA Maryland TerrapinsMaryland TerrapinsThe Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition... - Duane FerrellDuane FerrellDuane Ferrell is retired American professional basketball player.-Early life and college career:...
'84: NBA Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, Indiana PacersIndiana PacersThe Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and Golden State WarriorsGolden State WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, NCAA Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsGeorgia Tech Yellow JacketsThe Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The teams have also been nicknamed the Ramblin' Wreck, Engineers, Blacksmiths, and Golden Tornado. There are 8 men's and 7 women's teams that... - Gary NealGary NealGary Neal is an American professional basketball guard for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . Neal attended Aberdeen High School and Calvert Hall College High School in Maryland then played college basketball at La Salle University before tranfserring to Towson University...
'02: NBA San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursThe San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, NCAA LaSalle Explorers and Towson TigersTowson TigersThe Towson Tigers, formerly Towson College Knights, are the athletics teams of Towson University. All of the major athletic teams compete in the Colonial Athletic Association with 20 Division I athletic teams The Towson Tigers, formerly Towson College Knights, are the athletics teams of Towson... - Jack McClintonJack McClintonJack Paul McClinton is an American professional basketball player. A former college basketball player, he was the starting shooting guard for the University of Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team. He was selected in the second round by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2009 NBA Draft...
'02: selected by the San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursThe San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
in the 2009 NBA Draft2009 NBA DraftThe 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
. Later waived by the Spurs, as of 2009 he plays for Aliağa Petkim in the Turkish Basketball LeagueTurkish Basketball LeagueThe Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
, NCAA Miami HurricanesMiami HurricanesThe Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
Spalding Cavaliers:
- Rudy GayRudy GayRudy Carlton Gay, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies...
'04: NBA Memphis GrizzliesMemphis GrizzliesThe Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
, NCAA UConn Huskies - Aleksandar PavlovićAleksandar PavlovicAleksandar "Sasha" Pavlović is a professional basketball player who last played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . He began his NBA career with the Utah Jazz in 2003.-2000-2001:...
'99: NBA Cleveland Cavaliers
Gibbons Crusaders:
- Quintin DaileyQuintin DaileyQuintin "Q" Dailey was an American professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard who played collegiately at the University of San Francisco, he later went on to a career in the NBA, playing for the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, and Seattle SuperSonics over the course of his 10-year tenure in...
1979: NBA Chicago BullsChicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, L.A. Clippers and Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
, NCAA San Francisco Dons
Goretti Gaels
- Rodney MonroeRodney MonroeRodney Monroe is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2nd round of the 1991 NBA Draft. A 6'3" shooting guard, Monroe played only one year in the NBA with the Hawks during the 1991–92 season, appearing in 38 games and scoring a total of...
'87: NBA Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, NCAA NC State Wolfpack