BJ Ranson, a standout player from Mount Saint Joseph, has been honored as the Jerry Savage Player of the Year at the Baltimore Catholic League’s 55th annual awards luncheon. The 6-foot-3 point guard was recognized for his exceptional performance, leading his team to a remarkable record of 28-6 heading into the postseason.
Ranson, who began his basketball journey on the junior varsity team as a freshman, now averages 22.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. His accolades mark him as the 13th recipient of this prestigious award from Mount Saint Joseph. Reflecting on his achievement, Ranson expressed gratitude: “I feel blessed. I thank God, I thank my coaches and my teammates. … It’s not an individual [award], I would say, more of a team reward.”
Coaching and Player Achievements
In addition to Ranson’s recognition, Mount Saint Joseph’s coach Pat Clatchey was co-awarded the O. Ray Mullis Coach of the Year Award alongside Seth Goldberg of John Carroll. The event highlighted numerous individual accomplishments, including Carter Fisk, a senior guard at St. Frances, who was named the Cokey Robertson Most Improved Player of the Year.
Defensive prowess was acknowledged with the Mark Amatucci Defensive Player of the Year award going to Anthony Smith, also from St. Frances. The newly established Dan Popera Sportsmanship Award was shared by Brant Hall Jr. of Loyola Blakefield and Junior Mancho of Mount Carmel.
Joining Ranson on the All-BCL first team are his fellow players, including Fisk and TJ Jones from St. Frances, Braxton Bogard from Spalding, Tristen Wilson from Mount Carmel, and Aidan Able from John Carroll. The selections were made by the eight league coaches, emphasizing the competitive spirit of the league.
Academic and Additional Awards
In a new initiative, the BCL introduced the All-Academic Team, which honors one senior and one underclassman from each team. The honored students include Anthony Buchman and TJ Moultrie from Spalding, Colin Foster and Christian Smith from Calvert Hall, and several others from different schools.
The excitement continues as the BCL Tournament is set to commence at Loyola Maryland’s Reitz Arena. The quarterfinals will take place on March 1, 2024, with the top-seeded St. Frances facing off against No. 8 seed Loyola Blakefield. Other matches include No. 2 seed Mount Carmel against No. 7 seed St. Mary’s, third-seeded Mount Saint Joseph against sixth-seeded Calvert Hall, and No. 4 seed John Carroll against fifth-seeded Spalding.
The semifinals are scheduled for March 2, culminating in the championship game on March 4 at 20:00. This tournament promises to be an exciting showcase of talent and sportsmanship, reflecting the dedication and hard work of the athletes involved.
