(2022 City Alliance final crowd)

 

In front of a packed house, Cathedral and Arsenal Tech squared off for the 2022 City Alliance Tournament title. The energy was magnificent all game and boiled over at the end.

 

When Cathedral started with a zone defense, Tech senior guard Reggie Bass shot over the top with two deep threes. Tech also started in a zone, and after a couple of empty possessions, the Fighting Irish made four threes. Tayshawn Comer, Jaxon Edwards, Sincere Germany, and Jaron Tibbs hit the triples for Cathedral.

 

The game's highlight play came as Bass sprinted the ball down the court and went for a dunk, but Comer met Bass at the rim to block his attempt. The block was as good as one will see in the high school game.

 

Late in the first quarter, Tech senior Dayveon Turner made a three off the dribble to pull the Titans within 16-14. The teams combined for seven three-pointers in the opening frame.

 

Bass scored the first five Tech points in the second quarter to give the Titans the lead. Then, after a Turner score, Matthew Spears connected on a three to give Tech a 24-19 lead.

 

Comer and Tibbs took over the game from there. The duo scored 13 of Cathedral's final 16 points of the half. Edwards contributed a three-pointer during the stretch. Tibbs and Edwards hit the boards hard, and Comer set Tibbs up consistently. 

 

Cathedral took a 35-30 lead into halftime.

 

The Irish started the second half with a 10-2 spurt. Tibbs began the half with an and-one, then Jake Davis and Germany scored before Tibbs found an open layup. 

 

Comer, an Eastern Kentucky signee, dominated the third quarter. He scored eight points and tallied a couple of assists. He produced most of the Cathedral offense as the Fighting Irish built a double-digit lead.

 

Up ten going to the fourth, Cathedral stepped on the gas to begin the final period. The Fighting Irish scored the first ten points as Germany's three-pointer gave Cathedral a 68-46 lead.

 

Tech's pace and defensive pressure meant Cathedral could not let off the gas. D'Faybiean Pittman made two free throws later in the quarter to make it a 14-point game. 

 

With two minutes to play, Bass made two free throws, then Pittman drove on the floor to come up with a loose ball. He made a great pass from the ground to Bass, but Bass could not finish at the basket. That would have made it a ten-point game with 100 seconds left. 

 

Instead, Germany made two free throws to seal the championship for Cathedral. 

 

Comer stole the ball from Bass and converted it in transition to extend Cathedral's lead to 80-64. Seconds later, Comer created another steal. This time Bass wrapped Comer from behind for an intentional foul. 

 

Players started to talk and push before coaches joined, and things escalated quickly. However, nothing too ugly transpired, and most of the players and coaches have a long history of playing with and against each other. 

 

There was a threat of students and fans joining the confrontation. Therefore, the game was called with 33.4 seconds.

 

Cathedral won 80-64.

 

Comer led Cathedral with 25 points, six assists, five steals, and four rebounds. Tibbs recorded 23 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two steals while going 8-10 from the field. Edwards added eight points and ten rebounds in 16 minutes. Germany contributed 12 points, and Davis scored nine.

 

Bass had a game-high 26 points in the loss. He also had eight steals and six rebounds. Turner scored 14, and Spears added ten points and four rebounds. RaSheed Jones had four points, five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Antonio Lisenbee finished with five points and 12 rebounds in 15 minutes.

 

This is Jason Delaney's seventh City Alliance title between years at Cathedral and Tech. Cathedral is the winner of five of the last six City Alliance Tournaments.