ER Dispatches NW’ern in Early 4A South ‘Off Action

Ron Bailey, Publisher

The Raiders run Northwestern's Wildcats.

March 3, 2010 – As a higher seed in Maryland 4A South playoff seating, Eleanor Roosevelt (Greenbelt) hosted Northwestern (Hyattsville) in quarterfinal action last night. And as the team with the better record likely should – they are now now 17-5 and 10-13 respectively – the Raiders ended Northwestern’s season 55-40. Last night’s outcome was never really in doubt.

Front and center for ER was stopping Torre Summerville, Northwestern’s dynamic, diminutive, junior point guard. Mission accomplished, as the junior – who could be transferring next year – scored but two points, picked up a pair of quick fouls, and was out of sorts throughout.

Torre Summerville (with ball) was tracked the entire game.

Roosevelt’s coach, Brendan O’Connell, threw multiple people at Summerville, trapped him at times, and admitted stopping the floor general in Northwestern’s 1-4 sets and otherwise, was his team’s primary focus. Both O’Connell and Summerville talked about it. (Click the links to hear).

Junior forward Prince Okoroh led the victors with 15 points, while sophomore Shon Miller supplied 13. For Northwestern, junior forward Obi Oleka scored 12 points, while senior guard Khalil Tate dropped a game high 16.

One memorable flourish stood out: Early in the fourth quarter, one began with ER leading just 32-26, Miller and Tate went almost mano-to-mano, as the former shot a three pointer, followed by the latter. That pattern was continued, after which Miller sank yet another beyond-the-arch shot. That bomb was answered by a Northwestern timeout.

Roosevelt hosts Wise (Upper Marlbroro, MD) Thursday, as the Pumas beat Bowie 72-70, also last night.

Extras:

Click here for an exclusive interview with Prince Okoroh, who talks about the game, his team’s defensive focus, and the schools currently interested in him.

Tate tries to shoot over Okoroh.

Tate of Northwestern, like Okoroh, is an excellent student. In this interview, he runs down his post-high school options.