Friendly Gets Big Numbers from Triplets in 78-70 Playoff Win

Ron Bailey, Publisher

February 25th, 2006 – Coach Brian Walker’s Friendly Patriots (received 22 points from both Hillary “Pops” Hailey and James Stewart, plus Augustus “Gus” Gilchrest’s 18 point, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocks in a 78-70 first round PG 3A playoff victory over Gwynn Park, Friday night.

Corey Allmond led Gwynn Park with 18 points, while Maurice Stallion supplied 15 points and Geoffrey Stephenson added 13.

As to be expected, this game, another installment of in the long-standing rivalry between these southern Prince Georges County high schools, produced a hard fought, highly contested battle that saw several lead changes; Gwynn Park would go up by nine points in the first half, while Friendly battled back over the course of the end of the second and throughout the third quarters.

During the pivotal third period, Friendly outscored the home standing Yellow jackets 18-12. Fueling this comeback was defense. Hailey revealed the Pats were “throwing numerous (defensive) looks at them. One time we’d go man, and then we’d go zone”. The effect was to produce multiple defensive stops.

Hailey’s steal and resulting lay up to close the third was a prime example of what their defensive pressure created. The play sent Friendly’s bench and fans into delirium. Stewart commented after the game “The bench was rowdy (all game). This is the first time I’ve seen them like that”.

With Friendly leading 48-35 entering the fourth quarter, Gwynn Park mounted a furious comeback effort, led by Allmond and Stallion. Corey’s drop step at the 6:50 mark and Maurice’s back to back buckets around midway through the period were representative of their effort.

But the Patriots would not fold - guard Joe Haden (5 points) wouldn’t allow it. As he does on the gridiron as a quarterback, Haden directed his team with great aplomb – something that was done all game. When Joe set up Gilchrest for a nice and-one dunk, and almost a minute later sank one of two free throws, the game was pretty much over.

Additionally, Haden played a key role defensively. Walker stated “Joe Haden sacrificed his offense” during the game, as he was assigned Allmond for much of it.

The loss was a hard one for the Yellow jackets. Their coach, Steve Mathews, had previously determined to end his 14 year Gwynn Park coaching career after this season, and was understandably despondent.

Stephenson, with tears in his eyes, felt his team didn’t play up to their ability. “All year we talked about the teams in front of us and what mistakes they were making” he said, “And then we turn around and do the same thing”. Geoffrey felt those miscues included turnovers he made personally, and the end result was that the contest “slipped out of our hands”.

Corey Allmond opined “They just outplayed us. They played harder, they wanted it more”. He also indicated the Yellow Jackets were betrayed by their fourth quarter execution.

The Patriots on the other hand, feel buoyed by their win, which was over the squad Walker labeled “our biggest rival for years – in football, basketball, marbles, whatever”. Having overcome a rocky start to the season, or “weathered the storm” as Hailey put it, Friendly is playing their best ball, at the right time. Walker shared that his team took a while to jell, in part due to the five football players that had to be incorporated into their system late.

Hailey though, is not satisfied with the victory, as he believes “We haven’t accomplished out goal yet”, which is to win a state championship. Stewart even prognosticated “We are going to win the States this year”.

Whether that happens or not, observers can count on Friendly playing with passion and effort, as they did against Gwynn Park, even if all of their contests are on the road. If they continue to put things together, this game will not be “the greatest win of my life”, as shared by Coach Walker. He’ll be saying that, after winning the 2A/3A State Championship trophy.

Check back with i95Ballerz.com for more updates on Maryland High School Basketball’s March to Comcast.

Hailey and Stallion

Stewart Being Guarded by Allmond

Joe Haden