Festival's Second Day Action

Ron Bailey, Publisher

[Click here for Festival All Star teams]

December 8, 2008 – Day two of the DTLR National High School Hoops Festival Presented by Nike picked up where day one started – providing fans and coaches an opportunity to see some of the nation’s best pre-college players.

National Christian 81 St. Johns 53

Coming off a three day, three game, three win span, National Christian Academy walked into the Festival ostensibly tired and possibly ripe for defeat. Did it happen? As the saying goes, “Not”, as the Eagles made short work of St. John’s Catholic High.

Most would assume NCA’s all star forward Dante Taylor to be his team’s main force against St. John’s; though he had 14 points and excelled, he wasn’t as Ayodeji Egbeyemi filled that roll. Egbeyemi or ‘Deji’, along the way to 23 points and five rebounds, was perfect from the three point line (3-3) and charity stripe (5-5), attacked the rim, passed and defended. Originally from Nigeria, Deji wowed onlookers and won the games MVP award in the process.

Despite the lopsided loss, Troy King (20 points) did display his shooting touch, and Grandy Glaze (19 points, five rebounds) competed around the basket until the end for St. John’s. Afterward, Glaze indicated he had never before suffered a “30 point” loss, and insisted it wouldn’t happen again.

Chris Braswell returned home and did work.

Paul VI 60 Roman Catholic 55

Before the game many observers assumed Roman, led by Maalik Wayns would dominate, and in many ways he stood out with 18 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Essentially, Wayns did what he does.

But it was Paul VI’s Erick Green, Jr. that was named MVP for his 20 point, six rebound, four assist effort, one in which it’s not a stretch to say he controlled the games tempo. Simply, the contest was Erick’s show.

“It was a good match up” said Green, a recent transfer to Paul VI of the game. “I’m glad they set it up. We went at it hard”.

Green and Wayns matched up primarily late, but by that time he was almost unstoppable. Erick had help, with Blake Bozeman (13 points) shooting and providing leadership, while Deon Jones (10 points) continued his increasingly strong play.

Roman received 21 points from Koron Reed - some delivered above the rim - but by and large Wayns’ teammates were not able to help shoulder the burden, leaving him responsible for doing everything.

As the adage goes, good teams generally beat good players, and Paul VI was the better unit.

Patterson 76 Hargrave 72

In what was billed as the battle of America’s top two prep schools, Patterson survived 24 points and 12 boards from Hargrave’s Chris Braswell to win a nick and tuck affair. The victor’s Deandre Kane took MVP honors with 16 points, while his backcourt mate Vincent Council contributed a like amount.

“It was a hard fought game” shared Kane afterward. “Coach (Chris Chaney) said who played toughest would win. And we did”.

Toughness was a prerequisite; neither team mustered more than a six point lead after Hargrave’s early 10 point bulge. By halftime, the score stood Patterson 37-35, a 29-17 run fueled in part by the team’s switch to zone defenses, causing Hargrave to become somewhat hesitant. When stops were made, Patterson then pushed the rock.

In the second half the lead see-sawed, with neither team out front by more than a handful of points.

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LaQuinton Ross (25) proved his high-profile stature is well earned.

DeMatha Catholic 78 Murrah 58

DeMatha displayed perimeter depth and talent, jumping to a 20 point halftime lead, one which never measurably diminished. Pacing the Stags was Quinn Cook (24 points, seven assists) - for his effort he took the MVP award.

Quick and crafty, Cook was able to repeatedly find teammates for buckets, and score himself. “I got to the hole early…Later on, I was able to drop off (pass to teammates” relayed Quinn regarding his performance.

Despite the lopsided score, Murrah’s LaQuinton Ross wowed the crowd with 37 points, delivered from the perimeter and above the tin. His performance was offensively scintillating.

“It was good” said Ross of playing in the Festival, who concurred with his coach Bob Frith, the experience “will help us in league play”.

Firth expounded further: “I don’t worry about wins and losses this early (in the season). I’m just glad we had the opportunity to play…We go into division play this week; just like the NFL, what’s important for us is what happens in the division”.