By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports
LAKE CHARLES — In his own words, Vic Morris says this has been a “crazy” week. And he’s hoping it ends that way.
It started Monday morning when the Calvary Baptist boys’ basketball coach had to inform his players – just a few hours before they took the court for a semifinal game against Catholic-New Iberia in the LHSAA Select Division III playoffs – that he wouldn’t be on the sidelines that afternoon.
Morris wasn’t totally surprised when he got the phone call saying his wife had gone into labor. In fact, he had prepared for such an occasion.
“I kind of tried to plan for it,” says Morris. “I drove my car down to Lake Charles just in case.”
So, Morris began his drive back to Shreveport as the Cavaliers’ coaching staff starting planning for the game. Assistant coach Cam Grinage thought he would be taking over the coaching duties, but Calvary was informed that LHSAA rules require a designated head coach to be a full-time school staffer.
Grinage, who is pursuing his college degree, is a part-time coach.
No problem. Calvary superintendent Chad McDowell – who left LSUS in 2012 as the winningest basketball coach in program history – served as head coach while Grinage supervised from the bench.
Just after the Cavaliers came away with the 52-47 victory over Catholic-New Iberia Monday afternoon, Morris and his wife welcomed the birth of their second child (a daughter).
He’s hoping for an exciting end to this “crazy” week — with the Calvary boys’ basketball team finally closing out a season with the championship trophy.
“It’s time, it’s time,” says Morris, whose Cavs are making their fourth consecutive trip to the title game.
They’ll have their hands full as the No.3-seed Cavs (26-8) face No. 1 Isadore Newman (31-6) in today’s 2 o’clock finals in Burton Coliseum. Newman, last season’s Division III champion, is trying to earn its 11th overall state title.
“They’re a good team,” Morris says of the Greenies. “They’ve got good guards in (Chris) Lockett and (Canin) Jefferson. They’re well-coached, they execute well and they’re very balanced.”
Newman has outscored its opponents 199-115 over its three playoff games while Calvary got to today’s title game with two 2-point victories (over Mentorship Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas) and a 5-point win over Catholic-New Iberia.
“We’ve been pretty good defensively all year,” says Morris. “We’ve been able to defend and rebound. Offensively, we’re going to try to keep the ball moving.”
The Cavs had three players score in double digits in Monday’s semifinal victory, with Player of the Game KJ Kennon leading with 14 followed by Rondae Hill (12) and Malaki Thomas (10). The trio also finished with eight rebounds apiece.
Today’s contest will be live-streamed on NFHSnetwork.org and can be heard on KSYR 92.1 FM “The Light” with Travis Shurling calling the game.
Contact Harriet at sbjharriet@gmail.com