Healthy as its been all season and looking to find its form, Spalding boys basketball had a team meeting before Friday’s game at surging Glenelg Country.
The No. 10 Cavaliers talked some specific details, but mostly about playing together.
Then they went out and did it.
Behind a sensational performance from sophomore forward Braxton Bogard, who scored 28 points and notched seven rebounds, five blocked shots and four assists, Spalding claimed a much-needed 72-62 win over the No. 6 Dragons in Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference play.
The Cavaliers, who also got 23 points from Nash Avery, improved to 11-11 overall and 5-4 in the MIAA A. Glenelg Country (11-4) had its six-game winning streak ended and dropped to 8-4 in the conference.
Braxton scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Cavaliers set an early tone with a 19-6 advantage and then had answers for every push from the Dragons. It was a satisfying, much-needed win for the visiting team.
“We had a really good talk, the whole team, trying to figure out what we can do to get better,” Bogard said. “We talked about running the floor, staying open and letting everybody play their game and play freely. It was a big difference. Watching our past games compared to this one, everyone was getting touches and it was complete team effort.”
Spalding needed more than a fast start to get important victory.
The Dragons, who got 16 points off the bench from Shawn DuPont with three others reaching double figures, settled in and took a 22-21 lead early in the second quarter when Malakai Jones (11 points) hit a jumper with 6:20 left in the half to end a 16-2 run.
The Cavaliers responded. Avery hit a 3-pointer, Colt Busse converted a steal by Cam Carter into an easy two points and Nash slammed home a lob pass by Carter to reclaim a 28-22 lead.
Spalding took a 55-42 lead into the fourth quarter and fended off the Dragons’ last push after Drew Harris scored consecutive baskets to make it 60-53 with 5:42 left.
Carter, the team’s floor general who is just getting back to top form after an injury, took good care of the ball, dished out two assists and scored on a drive to help secure the win.
“It was effort for all four quarters. We just played really hard, they were into the game, talking to one another and we were all on the same page,” said Spalding coach Josh Pratt, who praised the play of Bogard and Carter.
Bogard liked how the team backed up what they said.
“That talk was needed to show how we want to play and the game showed how we can play and what we’re capable of doing,” he said. “We just got to keep doing this and I think we’ll be good for the rest of the season and got a good shot at winning it.”
The Dragons, who also got 14 points from Kayden Leggett, lost for the first time in the 2026 portion of the schedule. Coach Garrett O’Donnell was impressed with the Cavaliers’ energy and urgency with Bogard and Avery proving tough to match up against.
“They’re big guys really hurt us. Braxton and Avery really came out ready to play,” he said. “I’m sure their coach challenged them and they really rose to the challenge.”
O’Donnell is confident that his group will quickly bounce back. After losing seven players from last year’s team, including All Metro-Player of the Year Pat Curtin, the Dragons have been able to identify roles, play hard and prove formidable.
“Right now, I’m proud of our guys for rising to the challenge of that. We’ve got guys playing out of position and we don’t have a lot of depth, so I’m really proud of our guys and how they’re battling,” he said.
Spalding returns home Monday when it takes on St. Vincent Pallotti at 7 p.m. Glenelg Country next plays on Tuesday when it hosts Calvert Hall at 6 p.m.
S — 19-16-20-17 — 72
GC — 16-12-14-20 — 62
S — Bogard 28, Avery 23, Lonergan 3, Carter 3, Moultrie 7, Busse 2, Middleton 2, Farmer 4
GC — Harris 10, Leggett 14, Marshburn 6, Jones 11, DuPont 16, Williams 4, Donnelly 1
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