DeMatha Rallies Past St. John's in Basketball, Moves Up to No. 2 in DMV

The last time Jordan Stevens competed against St. John’s, he helped DeMatha’s football team defeat the Cadets, 42-0.

On Sunday at the Looney Convocation Center, the power forward played a key role in the No. 4 Stags’ 50-47 rally past No. 2 St. John’s in WCAC boys basketball.

Stevens, who plays linebacker for the two-time reigning WCAC champions, took a charge with 8.8 seconds to play and DeMatha clinging to a one-point lead. It led to fellow senior Ace Meeks hitting two free throws to nearly clinch the Stags’ fifth-straight victory.

Stevens’ charge-absorbing play was the third time the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder placed his body in the path of a driving Cadet. DeMatha coach Mike G. Jones praised Stevens in the Stags’ locker room because he and his staff place a premium on taking charges.

“Jordan was phenomenal,” Jones said. “He’s been a huge help for us with his physicality, but he’s also a great leader, great worker. He’s been a pleasure to coach this year.”

Meeks was DeMatha’s offensive sparkplug once again, scoring 26 points, including a three-point play on a driving layup with 21.6 second left to give the Stags a 48-47 lead. After Stevens ended St. John’s next possession, Meeks sank two foul shots with less than five ticks remaining.

On a night that his teammates combined to go 4 of 12 from line, Meeks was 6 of 7. He also hit 4 of 10 two-pointers and 4 of 10 from beyond the arc. He plays every game with supreme confidence.

“I feel like every shot that I shoot is going in,” said Meeks, who has scored 1,559 career points and was Jones’ first DeMatha recruit. “Whether it’s a free throw, a floater or from the other side of the daggone court, I feel like I’m going to make it every time just because of how much work I put into it and the scoring ability I have.

“I always have confidence in my shot.”

Seeing his late-game heroics you wouldn’t know that with a little over a minute to play he was on the court writhing in pain after having been hit in the stomach. He didn’t miss a play.

“He’s getting everyone’s best shot – double-teamed, triple-teamed – but he’s still able to score and also find his teammates. I’m happy with his progression as a player from his freshman year up to now.”

Meeks’ lead-changing layup came after the Stags’ forced a shot clock violation. In addition to the three charges Stevens took, Donovan Wright – who was celebrating his 17th birthday – took two and Meeks had one.

“Those are like game-winning, championship, momentum-swinging plays where you’re sacrificing your body,” Jones said. “To be a championship team, we’ve all got to make sacrifices, whether that’s playing time, giving up your body or giving up your shot for a better shot.

“The guys have bought in 100 percent to try to play the right way and play for each other."

Rallying to Victory

The Cadets (17-6, 5-2) led for almost the entire middle quarters and had a 33-24 lead with 5:13 to go in the third period. DeMatha regrouped with a 9-2 run that Meeks punctuated with a pair of 3-pointers, one from each wing. His two free throws early in the fourth quarter put the Stags on top 40-38, their first lead since 5-4.

His freebies came after he found junior center Jared Jeffers for a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Jeffers finished with seven points, five rebounds and five blocked shots. Two of his rejections came on one sequence in the game’s first moments. He is in his first season at DeMatha.

“Jared has been a great asset for us,” Jones said. “He’s starting to buy into what we’re telling him about making the effort to make impactful plays, and he’s doing that by his inside presence and by blocking shots. He’s 6-foot- 9 1/2, can move very well, guard the perimeter and is a willing passer.

“He’s been a pleasure to coach.”

Halfway through the final quarter, Stevens kept a possession alive by grabbing one of his four rebounds and passing to Meeks for an outside jumper to put the Stags up, 42-41. St John’s took a four-point lead when sophomore Kareem Smith-Bey scored inside with 1:20 remaining.

Meeks, a first-team All-Met last year, scored a career-high 40 points in a 68-58 win at Good Counsel on Jan. 9. Jones praises his point guard for his many contributions to DeMatha’s success.

“Ace’s leadership has been great,” he said. “He’s been vocal when we need him to be vocal, but he’s more of a lead-by-example guy.”

One vs. Two – The Stags host No. 1 St. Paul VI on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers (20-2, 6-0 WCAC) are led by All-American Jordan Smith, who played for Joe Sego (DeMatha 1994) at nearby St. Jerome Parish.

With their win Sunday, the Stags moved up to No. 2 in The Washington Post Top 20. This is the highest ranking of coach Jones’ four years at DeMatha.

Chris McManes is an assistant freshman basketball coach at DeMatha and the school's communications manager.