With just under than five minutes left in the D.C. State Athletic Association (DCSAA) boys’ basketball championship game, and St. John’s trailing Gonzaga by two points, Jeffrey Dowtin Jr. knew something big needed to happen.
The St. John’s junior guard stepped back for a wide-open three-pointer to give his team a 61-60 lead – its first of the night. A few minutes later, St. John’s beat Gonzaga, 74-66, on March 10 in front of a packed house at the University of the District of Columbia.
“When I hit it, everybody was just screaming and yelling,” said Dowtin, who scored a game-high 25 points. “I was like ‘We got this; we got this.’”
Earlier in the night, it seemed like Gonzaga would cruise to their second basketball title—they beat DeMatha in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship on Feb. 27.
Gonzaga sophomore guard Chris Lykes put on a show, making 9-of-13 shots for 21 points, four assists and two steals. Lykes, along with senior forward Sam Miller (13 points), led Gonzaga to a 40-29 lead by halftime.
However, in the second half, St. John’s guards—the driving force of the team—were able to switch the momentum in their favor. Dowtin and juniors Dejuan Clayton and Anthony Cowan Jr. combined to score 57 points.
Clayton also took home Most Valuable Player honors.
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In the DCSAA girls’ basketball championship game, Georgetown Visitation defeated St. John’s, 51-47, to win their first DCSAA title on March 10 at UDC.
In the fourth quarter, it seemed like it could be anybody’s game, with both teams not letting the other build more than a six-point lead. However, Visitation junior guard Alexis Gray stepped up to take charge, scoring all 13 of her points in the fourth quarter alone.
Visitation senior forward Kate Delaney scored a game-high 24 points and was also named Most Valuable Player.
For St. John’s, sophomore Niya Beverley led her team with 14 points, four assists and four steals.