Cadets Win 6th Area Lacrosse Title - Elite Eight for Second Year
Benedictine lacrosse coach Dustin White came into Saturday's match with Richmond Hill knowing that a win over the Wildcats would create a three-way tie for the GHSA Division 2 Area 4 title — creating a scenario where the Area championship would be decided on a goals allowed tiebreaker.
Savannah Country Day, which edged BC 8-7 on Wednesday, had allowed 13 region goals, while BC entered the game having allowed eight and Richmond Hill five.
So once host Benedictine took a 7-3 lead over Richmond Hill entering the fourth quarter, White knew the Cadets were right where they wanted to be if they could freeze the score right there, and that's exactly what the Cadets did by playing an impressive, if a bit unusual, style of possession lacrosse in a scoreless fourth quarter.
Benedictine beat the Wildcats 7-3 and took the Area title, along with a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs that start next week. The Cadets will have a first-round bye in the Division II state tournament and will host the winner of Lakeside DeKalb and Northside on May 1 or May 2.
"I was impressed with our composure at the end of the game," said White, whose squad improved to 13-3 on the season. "It was an unusual situation, and we had talked about it with the boys. They knew we didn't need to score any more — just prevent Richmond Hill from scoring, and the guys didn't play selfish. They were getting checked and beat up, but they kept running because they knew that's what the team needed. Part of me didn't like coaching a game that way, but that's what we needed for the title, so it became kind of a chess match."
The Cadets carried on a special tradition with a ceremony at halftime as the No. 10 was awarded for a junior to wear in his final season with the team next year. The tradition is in memory of former BC standout Ricky McAllaster, who died in a car accident in 2010 at the age of 15.
Senior Walker Groves, a long stick middie, has worn No. 10 with pride this season. He selected junior Wyatt Estabrook to wear McAllaster's number next year. Estabrook, also a middie is a standout 3-sport athlete for the Cadets, playing football and basketball."Wearing No. 10 this year meant a lot to me," Groves said. "Your teammates will look to you in times of adversity, and once I got comfortable with that, it was an amazing experience. I chose Wyatt because he's a phenomenal athlete and leader that loves to grind for that competitive edge. He has that more than anyone on our team, so I thought he was the best player to wear No. 10."
Estabrook was solid on the field from start to finish and celebrated the championship with his teammates afterward. He said being chosen to wear No. 10 next year is an honor.
"It's a blessing to be chosen to wear Ricky's jersey," Estabrook said. "The McCallasters are such a great family, and to be able to carry on Ricky's legacy means a lot. I'll need to set an example and have the best season of my life as a senior."
"It's a blessing to be chosen to wear Ricky's jersey," Estabrook said. "The McCallasters are such a great family, and to be able to carry on Ricky's legacy means a lot. I'll need to set an example and have the best season of my life as a senior."
Sophomore Wiley Chandler earned the game ball from White after scoring three goals and assisting on two others. Avery Allen had two goals and two assists, while Groves and Josh Quasha also found the back of the net.
"Richmond Hill is a talented team, and they're pretty deep," said Chandler, whose older brothers Jack and Ryan were also Cadet lacrosse standouts. "And I know they really wanted it today, because BC is always the team to beat. But everybody did their job today, and we played with teamwork. Now our goal is to get to the Final Four and then win a championship."
