Mens Basketball: EA vs. WA - Complete Game Coverage

January 25, 2011

By Kevin McCloskey of Western Alamance High School


Photos courtesy of Kay McCloskey


Video courtesy of Kay McCloskey:  Link
NOTE:  Video includes performance by WA Dance Team


Article from Burlington Times-News:  Link









In order to save myself some time and you some agony, I will not provide a detailed description of the first half action.  I will summarize it by stating the facts:  WA scored 7 points in Q1 and followed that up with 4 points in Q2.  The halftime score was EA-23; WA-11.  That's all that needs to be said about the first half of Monday night's game.

Following an upbeat performance by the WA dance team (video of performance is part of the overall game highlights video), the Warriors returned to the court with glassy eyes and blank stares.  At first, I wasn't sure if it was apathy or shell-shock syndrome.  As play began, I think it was actually neither.  It turned out to be a look of focus and determination; a hunger to erase the abysmal first half and show some grit and fire!  

It started out as a long-range bombing mission...

• Allen Black for 3!!!
  
• Allen Black for 3!!!
• Andre Saunders for 3!!!

Sandwich in a driving layup by BJ Bunn and the Warriors had very quickly forged a 25-25 tie ballgame with 4 minutes still to play in Q3.

Freshman TJ Harris provided some defensive and rebounding muscle off the bench to help counteract the EA Twin Towers of Jaylin Riley and Ali Lamot.

At the 2:29 mark of Q3, the Warriors had finally secured their first lead of the contest (31-30) on a free throw by Saunders.  The teams traded a series of baskets before EA squeaked out to a modest 4 point cushion (37-33) as the 3rd quarter drew to a close.    This was aided by an unfortunate foul against WA as EA was attempting a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer from near 3/4 court.  The Eagles made 2/3 free throws to collect a couple of "free" points with no time remaining on the 3Q clock.

Let me state 2 more facts:

1. EA's guards are VERY quick
2. EA is (at least last night) a VERY good free throw shooting team

So these 2 facts may well have led to Eagle Coach Jay McPherson's decision to spread the floor to open play in Q4.  The triple-threat guard combination of Lamont Robinson, Jordan Mann, and Dante Wilson took turns passing, dribbling, penetrating, and dishing for the Eagles.  This strategy worked well as the Eagles cushion grew to 7 points.

At this point, the Warriors really turned up the heat.  Using their own quick guards (AJ Clark, Andre Saunders, BJ Bunn), WA frantically attacked the Eagles forcing several turnovers that allowed the Warriors to tighten the gap.

Clark rattled home a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut the lead to 45-42 with 3:20 remaining in the game.  Saunders also came up big in Q4 with 6 points of his own.

But the Warriors could get no closer thanks to fact #2 (above)....  EA is a VERY good free throw shooting team.   The Eagles collected 12 Q4 points from the charity stripe alone and held on to secure a critical victory in the Mid-State 3A conference.

WA Scoring

• AJ Clark - 16
• Allen Black - 11
• Andre Saunders - 10
• BJ Bunn - 5
• TJ Harris - 3
• Andrew Farris - 3  (I want to congratulate Andrew on getting some quality minutes last night and for playing well.  Nice job!).

EA was led by Dante Wilson (24 points to match his jersey number) and Jordan Mann (13).