The Classic

The annual basketball game between the Maryvale Lions and The Mercy Magic is a time-honored Baltimore tradition of excellence in girls’ sports.

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Maryvale wins The Classic 2026!

IAAM Article: Maryvale comes away with consecutive “Classic” wins with a 44-34 victory over Mercy High School

Catholic Review Article: Maryvale roars past Mercy for second straight ‘Classic’ triumph

Baltimore Sun Article: Maryvale girls basketball tops Mercy, 44-34, in latest edition of The Classic

WMAR Live: Interview with Head Coach Telia Marks

The Varsity Lions beat the Magic 44-34 on Friday night, January 30, 2026. This is the second year Maryvale has won The Classic. Last year, on Friday night, January 24, 2025, the Lions beat the Mgic 45-44 for the first time! The record is 2-3 for our 5-year competition so far.

A Legacy of Rivalry and Tradition

The contest has its roots beginning in 1964 when Mercy High School competed against the old Seton High School in a 3-year series at the Civic Center. In 1967, a new rivalry formed between Mercy and the Institute of Notre Dame, which lasted for 54 years.

Now known as The Classic, this signature event builds on a friendly rivalry between Mercy and Maryvale spanning more than 50 years in multiple sports. More than just another game on the schedule, The Classic will be the culmination of a week of spirited activities between the two schools, including JV and alumnae games (alumnae team featured here), pep rallies, and a fundraising challenge among each school’s graduates.

Alumnae of both schools make it a homecoming, and the athletes, cheerleaders, pep squads, and coaches have a college-level athletic experience at Towson University's SECU Arena, playing in front of thousands of spectators and on a university campus. The players are following in the footsteps of 60 years of athletes who were proud to represent their schools and are part of an athletic legacy in Baltimore.

It's the only girls' athletic event of its scope in Maryland.

Pre-coverage from WMAR 2025

Pre-coverage from WJZ 2025

Baltimore Sun coverage 2025

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