Richards stars/ abroad high school round up - Feb 4, 2012 (by David Edole)
by Nick Cammarota, Staff Writer
With 1:31 remaining in the fourth quarter on Friday night, the Gwynn Park High School boys basketball team appeared on the verge of collapsing. The Yellow Jackets were clinging to a two-point lead that had been 13 four minutes earlier, had no timeouts and committed three consecutive turnovers.
All this against visiting Potomac the only team in the Prince Georges County 3A/2A/1A League to beat the Yellow Jackets this season [read more]
by Nick Cammarota, Staff Writer With 1:31 remaining in the fourth quarter on Friday night, the Gwynn Park High School boys basketball team appeared on the verge of collapsing. The Yellow Jackets were clinging to a two-point lead that had been 13 four minutes earlier, had no timeouts and committed three consecutive turnovers.
All this against visiting Potomac the only team in the Prince Georges County 3A/2A/1A League to beat the Yellow Jackets this season.
Gwynn Parks next two plays, however, were sensational, and the Yellow Jackets 61-55 victory helped turn the race for the leagues top seed into a two-team battle: Gwynn Park against Largo.
Great win. Resilient win. Its only going to make us better for the playoffs, said Gwynn Park coach Mike Glick. We have to maintain pace with the teams in our region and Largo in our league.
Following Gwynn Parks final time out, 6-foot-9 senior Marcel Boyd caught the ball in the low post and fed senior guard Jarvis Hawkins on a backdoor cut, easily beating Potomacs pressure defense for the layup.
In doing so, Boyd and Hawkins accomplished what the offense had failed to for a majority of the fourth quarter by crisply executing a set play. The bucket gave Gwynn Park (14-4, 13-1) a 55-51 lead. Following a missed jumper by Potomacs Mark Givens, senior guard Xavier Richards completed a wild right-handed scoop/runner in the lane to increase Gwynn Parks lead to six with 1:14 remaining. That late-game precision boosted Gwynn Park to its 10th consecutive victory while the Wolverines (12-6, 10-4) had their five-game winning streak snapped.
We stayed calm throughout the fourth quarter, Richards said. Thats really about it. We tried to stay calm and play to our abilities.
Richards, the 6-foot-2 guard with you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it jumping abilities, finished with a team-high 16 points, Hawkins had 14 (all in the second half) and Boyd finished with a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks).
[Potomac was] talking a little trash before the game about how they owned us and how we couldnt beat them, Boyd said. I wanted to go out there and impose our will on them and show them were still the team to beat.
The Yellow Jackets amassed their largest lead, 51-38, with 5:24 remaining, only to see Potomac score 13 of the next 15 points. Even so, Gwynn Parks shot selection was above average in the second half as Glicks squad converted 14 of its 22 attempts in the final 16 minutes and finished the game shooting 48.9 percent from the floor (24 of 49).
We can do big things, Richards said. We've got good team chemistry. We make things great around here.
Potomacs sophomore sensation Dion Wiley led all scorers with 22 points (six 3-pointers). Despite Gwynn Parks best defensive efforts tight man-to-man, a box-and-1, aggressive step-outs Wiley still scored more than a third of his teams points.
Hes the best sophomore in our league and one of the best players in our league, Glick said. Hes got to be one of the best sophomores in the DMV. I thought we did a very poor job guarding him from the very first play of the game to the end.
The Wolverines missed five of their six fourth-quarter free throws, and with the loss likely dropped out of contention for one of the leagues top two spots. Still, after four wins last season, first-year coach Renard Johnson is pleased with the progress in 2012.
I cant be disappointed in a loss like this, Johnson said. Not just because Gwynn Park is good, but the teams were evenly matched, we were on their home floor, we took their best shot and we put ourselves in a winning position at the end.
As players filed out of Gwynn Parks locker room following the game, two assistant coaches could be overheard dissecting the opponent.
Theyre deep. Theyre really talented, one said.
I wouldnt want to face them again, replied the other.
The Yellow Jackets wont have to, as the teams go to separate regional tournaments Potomac to the 3A South and Gwynn Park to the 2A South. Glick concurred with his coaching staff.
Theyve given us the hardest time of anybody in our league, he said of Potomac. Theyve done a tremendous job of turning the program around. Im just happy theyre in 3A.
ncammarota@gazette.net
Gwynn Park 61, Potomac 55
Potomac 8 12 14 21 55
Gwynn Park 16 10 18 17 61
Potomac (12-6, 10-4): Dion Wiley 22, Romone Saunders 10, Mark Givens 8, Dondre Brandon 6, Davon Williams 4, Aaron Williams 3, Valshawn Wallace 2
Bobcats encouraged by Kemba Walkers play at point guard after 1st career triple-double - Feb 1, 2012 (by David Edole)
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- Bobcats coach Paul Silas spent the better part of a week preaching to Kemba Walker(185-PG-90, college: Connecticut) the importance of passing first, shooting second.
Apparently Walkers a pretty good listener.
In just his fourth start at point guard Walker handed out 11 assists en route to his first career triple-double in Charlottes 102-99 loss Saturday night to the Washington Wizards [read more]
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- Bobcats coach Paul Silas spent the better part of a week preaching to Kemba Walker (185-PG-90, college: Connecticut) the importance of passing first, shooting second.
Apparently Walkers a pretty good listener.
In just his fourth start at point guard Walker handed out 11 assists en route to his first career triple-double in Charlottes 102-99 loss Saturday night to the Washington Wizards. It was a remarkable improvement over Walkers first three starts, in which he had just eight assists combined.
Walker also scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
Let me tell you, it was just wonderful, Silas said. I didnt know that he could pass the ball that well or even see guys that were open like that. He hadnt done it before, but hes learning. To get a triple-double after 21 games, to me, thats just out of this world.
I just cant think of enough good things to say about him and how well hes going to do in the future.
Silas has been around the league long enough to know that one game doesnt make or break a player.
As promising as Walkers breakout game was, hed like to see the rookie the consistently take charge.
The No. 9 overall pick in the draft out of Connecticut will get the chance to do that over the next four games with regular starting point guard D.J. Augustin already ruled out because of inflammation in his right toe.
The Bobcats will look to snap an eight-game losing streak Tuesday night when they begin a four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Honestly, Im still trying to learn this game, Walker said. Im a very unselfish player. I dont mind passing the ball at all. Coach told me he wanted me to get guys the ball and he showed me on film a lot of the opportunities that I have to get to the basket and distribute.
Walker admittedly struggled during his first three starts.
Silas urged him both publically and privately to do a better job of distributing the ball, hoping to get the point across.
We talked to him about what was needed and we talked to him about how to distribute first and score second, Silas said.
They watched hours of tape together.
It culminated in what Walker said was probably his best game, but he downplayed the effort by noting his teams NBA-worst 3-18 record.
I just want to win, whether that means getting assists or rebounds, Walker said.
He said he is most comfortable playing the point guard position.
Ive been playing it my whole life, Walker said. I love playing point guard. But if I had to be out there playing the two spot it doesnt matter. Im still going to be doing the same thing. Im still going to push the ball and Im still going to run some plays just maybe not as much.
The Bobcats long-term future at point guard looks good. Augustin will be a restricted free agent next year, but has improved enough to where it would be hard to fathom the team not keeping him.
Walker clearly will be a big part and it doesnt hurt having owner Michael Jordan as one of his biggest fans.
For now, Walker is just trying to make his mark.
On Tuesday night, hell face off against one his heroes, Kobe Bryant. The Lakers star would make an annual visit to Rice High School in The Bronx, where Walker first gained national recognition.
Kobe sponsored my high school, so once a year he would come down and talk to us, Walker said. So Ive been around Kobe for a while. But to finally be able to play against him in the NBA is going to be exciting. Hes one of the best players in the world. Im really looking forward to it.
McArthur ranks in the top ten..High School stats - Jan 29, 2012 (by David Edole)
McArthur High School is ranked 10th in Florida's 7A Division by floridahoops.com. It reads McArthur High is making their 1st appearance in the poll, riding a 5 game win streak. We now have a 7 game win streak as of this past Thursday. The team leading scorer is Kareem Harris and leading rebounder and shot-blocker is Jose Santos, both from St. Croix.
Coach Ray Lockhart-Head Coach
Asst. Coach Tyrone Allick and Ray Milligan all from St.Croix
STATS -both Bvi and USVI stats [read more]
McArthur High School is ranked 10th in Florida's 7A Division by floridahoops.com. It reads McArthur High is making their 1st appearance in the poll, riding a 5 game win streak. We now have a 7 game win streak as of this past Thursday. The team leading scorer is Kareem Harris and leading rebounder and shot-blocker is Jose Santos, both from St. Croix. Coach Ray Lockhart-Head Coach Asst. Coach Tyrone Allick and Ray Milligan all from St.Croix STATS -both Bvi and USVI stats... DELAWARE Norville Carey, Red Lion (11-4), 17.8 ppg 4.8 rpg, 1.7 bpg, fifth in the state in scoring, ninth in blocked shots Javier Martinez, Red Lion (11-4), 16.4ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 apg tenth in the state in scoring Deon Edwin, Red Lion (11-4), 16.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 apg 13th in scoring Khallid Hart, Sanford (13-0) 14.7 ppg, 6.6 apg, 3.2 rpg, 3.9spg 20th in scoring, 1st in assists per game. Amadius Derweer, Concord (14-2), 10.3ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.2 bpg, 1st in the state in blocked shots, sixth in rebounding Rasheed Swanston, Red Lion (11-4), 9.8 ppg, 2.1 spg, 1.3 apg Reavaun Garraway, Red Lion (11-4), 5.3 ppg, 1.5 apg, 1.3spg
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