7th Annual Golden Child Succeeds On and Off Court
Ron Bailey, Publisher
Page 2
Boy’s Championship Game
Progressive Christian 97 - Oxon Hill 90
Two Prince George’s County, MD, neighbors that don’t play in the regular season locked horns for the boy’s title, thrilling those in attendance, as Progressive found themselves down early, raced to an early second half 15 point lead, only to have it reduced to two with 9:38 to play. Further adding drama was Oxon Hill’s subsequent 9-5 run over the course of two minutes and four seconds, before Progressive salted the game away at the charity stripe.
The key in Progressive’s roller-coaster victory was maintaining focus and playing smart basketball. The person most responsible for that was the game’s MVP, junior guard, Jasper Williams (31 points).
Early on, the team’s leader Williams effectively found open teammates and attacked the rim. As a result, his teammates followed suit, and the effects were reflected in their double digit lead.
During the second half, Williams and his mates seemed to lose focus, trying for the highlight caliber play, not the sound, fundamental one. Their point advantage suffered accordingly.
“I told them to settle down, and play smart basketball” said Vann Whitfield, the team’s coach, of his instructions to the team.
Progressive Christian with hardware.
His charges listened, with the change emanating from Williams. “He settled down” remarked Whitfield of his floor leader, “and did what good guards do; control the game and make his team play solid basketball”.
In William’s mind, he “found myself being too aggressive”, and replaced that with floor generalship. That included making sure sophomore guard Vince Murphy (11 points) and Ernest “Stretch” Watson (7 points) stayed involved, as both are capable of taking over games.
Coach and player were ecstatic afterward. “It feels good to win MVP” said Williams, before adding “especially with a championship”. His coach, Whitfield, proudly stated “It’s the second time for our team”, indicating their status as repeat champions.
Oxon Hill was led by Maurice ‘Mo’ Creek (25 points) – a deadly shooting swing man that can pass and strap up defensively, and forward Deonta Edwards (17 points). Progressive’s junior forward Latay Dotson (12 points) frequently attacked the rim for his team.
Professional Championship Game
Dunk On U 98 - A. Wash 96
There are times in Pro-Am hoops events, when the amateurs outshine the professionals. This was not one of those cases, as Baltimore’s Dunk on U was down 15 in the first half, only to prevail at game’s end.
Brian Chase (32 points) – presently of the NBADL’s Los Angeles franchise and recently the Utah Jazz - was the prime reason D.C.’s A. Wash was able to mount such a significant lead, as when the ball was in his hands, generally good things happened: The diminutive floor leader not only found teammates for scores, but put up numbers prodigiously himself, including 11 straight first half points via three-balls and layups.
Baltimore's Dunk On U.
He was assisted by Hugh ‘Baby Shaq’ Jones (30 points), a powerful backcourt player capable of shooting, rebounding, and slamming with the best of them. During the game, Jones did all three.
Though down for much of the game, Dunk On U, coached by Lance Fuller, maintained a game plan designed to exploit their size advantage by isolating big men in the low and mid post. The scheme started bearing fruit in the second half, as by the third quarter’s 4:06 mark, they only trailed 62-57.
While forward Mark Karcher (23 points) would become the inside focal point towards the end of the contest, Dunk On U also benefited from the play of guard Darnell Hopkins (28 points), along with A. Wash’s not getting the ball into Chase’s hands.
Following their post-centric scheme in the fourth quarter, Karcher repeatedly received the rock in scoring position, either scoring, getting fouled, or both. By the time the clock read 6:36 to play, Dunk On U had gained the lead.
Though Chase’s three pointer with 1:37 to go tied the game, A. Wash could never regain a scoreboard advantage, despite a golden opportunity: Down 94-91, Chase rebounded a missed Karcher free throw, before being fouled with 34.9 seconds to go. He hit both shots from the charity stripe, and would later get the ball with the score standing 96-93, but his team was unable to get a good shot.
Fuller, who had just taken the team to “Ocean City where we won a national championship” and labeled them “my young puppies”, simply responded “Always” when asked if Karcher is frequently used to close games in that manner.
After giving a shout-out to “Larry Washington – our G.M. - for funding us” Fuller also commented the D.C.-B’More rivalry doesn’t deter him in the least. “I’m the only person that comes to D.C.” he said, of the other B’Mo professional teams.
Karcher, the pro game’s MVP, labeled the match up “A good competition”, while opining Dunk On U prevailed because “we really wanted it more”, also enjoys both the cities’ rivalry and the hoops it engenders. “I’ve been coming over here since I was like 10 years old” said the present Iranian-league professional. “It’s definitely different basketball. You know you are going to get a good, competitive game, and they don’t back down from me at all”.
All participants, and fans should be lauded, as they didn’t back down from supporting the Golden Child Awards in general, and Tyrone L. King, Jr. Armstead in particular. That kind of stepping up makes a real difference.
Last but certainly not least, major props to the Golden Child Awards Foundation and it’s president, Bill Wright, along with the event's sponsors’ for he work they do. Lucky for everyone, they made it happen.