Not having outstanding point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright didn’t hurt the Loyola boys basketball team Friday at Alemany.
After losing two Mission League games this week, both by two points, the Cubs regrouped behind 7-footer Thomas Welsh for an 86-70 victory.
The victory forces a three-way tie for second place with Loyola (14-4, 4-2), Alemany (13-6, 4-2) and Harvard-Westlake (13-5, 4-2). All three teams are one game behind Crespi (15-6, 5-1).
Welsh was unstoppable, scoring 28 points and grabbing 20 rebounds.
“I’m telling you, he’s a pro,” Loyola coach Jamal Adams said.
Welsh scored 10 points in the first half and exploded for 10 more in the third when the Cubs increased a six-point halftime lead to 21 points.
“It was definitely an important victory,” Welsh said. “We had good energy on the defensive end. I received great passes on the interior for easy layups.”
Alemany coach Tray Meeks was impressed.
“The big boy did a hell of a job,” Meeks said. “He’s a 7-footer in high school and he played well.”
Loyola received a balanced effort and seemed to have figured out how to play better without Jackson-Cartwright.
Trey Mason had 18 points, Mtume Armour scored 16 points and Max Hazzard added 11 points.
“I think we trusted each other,” Adams said. “We talked to each other. The kids did it. They talked to each other after Wednesday’s game and we worked our tails off in practice. We really focused on defense.”
Brandon Boyd scored 18 points, Bennie Boatwright scored 17 points and Razhaun Henderson scored 14 points to lead Alemany, which cut a 21-point deficit to 12 points but could get no closer.
Boyd scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and Boatwright made five 3-pointers.
“Rebounding was the difference,” Meeks said. “They had extra possessions.”
Alemany came in with a three-game winning streak and Loyola had lost four of its past seven.
“It’s the Mission League,” Meeks said. “It’s not about all the hype. It’s about who played better tonight. They played better. They weren’t reeling because they lost two in a row. They are a good program.”
Alemany has no time to sulk. The Warriors play four games next week and are in the middle of playing eight games over the next 16 days.
“It’s going to be a grind,” Meeks said. “We will see what we are made of.”
