Semi-final winners continue on their path to Stevenson for the IAAM Basketball Championships 

By Nelson Coffin
nelson@iaamsports.com

The top-two seeds in all three basketball conferences will compete for championship berths in the semifinal round.

All except one of the elimination games will be held on Thursday at the higher seeds, including No. 1 McDonogh (23-4, 16-0 league) testing fourth-seeded St. Mary’s (20-8, 10-6) and No. 2 St. Frances Academy (18-7, 13-3) facing third-seeded St. Vincent Pallotti (14-10, 12-4) in the A Conference.

In the B Conference, top-seeded Gerstell Academy (15-6, 10-0) and No. 5 Severn (16-7, 5-5) will clash the day before No. 2 Mount de Sales Academy (20-4, 8-2) takes on third-seeded John Carroll (13-7, 7-3).

No. 1 Glenelg Country School (16-4, 13-1) and fifth-seeded Beth Tfiloh (6-9, 5-9) will meet while second-seeded Indian Creek (17-6, 13-1) will do battle on the other side of the bracket with sixth-seeded Friends (5-12, 4-10) for a chance to reconnect in the C Conference final.

All in all, the single-elimination event will elevate the winners onto the big stage on Sunday at Stevenson University with the A Conference tipping off at 1 p.m., the C at 3 p.m. and the B slated for 5:30 p.m.

Although McDonogh and St. Frances earned byes into the semis, Pallotti and St. Mary’s advanced by beating Roland Park Country School, 64-38, and Mercy, 48-41, respectively.

Gerstell took out Maryvale, 44-22, to lock up one spot while Severn edged Notre Dame Prep, 40-38, to stay alive in the B.  John Carroll topped St. John’s Catholic Prep, 49-26, and Mount de Sales prevailed over St. Paul’s School for Girls, 46-32, to do the same.

The tournament provided some surprises in the C, with Beth Tfiloh outlasting Annapolis Area Christian School, 27-18, and Friends knocking off Park, 39-31.

If Glenelg Country and Indian Creek, who enjoyed byes, can survive until the final round it will set up an intriguing match between rivals which split two regular-season encounters.

Should the top seeds meet in the A, St. Frances will try to overcome a McDonogh squad that beat the Panthers twice during the regular season — both times by single digits, however.

The B top seeds only met once, with Gerstell posting a 51-39 verdict over Mount de Sales on Jan. 5.