A Hodge Podge of Holiday Action

Ron Bailey, Publisher

December 29, 2007 - There are so many holiday basketball tournaments, one can’t attend them all. Resultantly, an eclectic duo of game reports follows, one that represents a number of Mid-Atlantic locales.

Friday, December 28, 2007
Mt. Vernon Christmas Tournament semifinal

Hayfield 69 Potomac 58

Representing the Virginia side of things, Hayfield (Alexandria) defeated Potomac (Woodbridge) 69-58, after holding a slight lead for much of the game. Junior guard Chad Canady led the Hawks and game with 25 points, three of which were scored with 2:56 in regulation and his team up only three; his bucket and accompanying foul shot effectively provided Hayfield an insurmountable advantage.

Chad Canady (right) with Donald Vaughan.

“We tell our kids someone is going to step up every game” said Hayfield’s coach, Ron Palmer. “And today it was him”.

Palmer also lauded his team’s defense - primarily a 2-3 match up zone alignment - and the Hawk’s ability to handle Potomac’s full court man to man defensive work in the second half, which he labeled “impressive”.

Potomac’s Donald Vaughan (17 points) and Devonne Blackshear (16 points) - senior center and swingman respectively - benefited from that defensive effort: Vaughan scored on put backs generated by the frenetic pace, as well as initiated many fast breaks with great outlet passes, and Blackshear scored in both scatter court and half court situations, many times after good defensive stops (several of which were created by his steals). For the year, the team is 2-1.

Hayfield, now 5-1, was ecstatic in beating perennial Northern Virginia power Potomac, with Palmer expressing that emotion succinctly. “We are trying to bring back what was once here” said the coach, who believes the win against their now 2-1 foes brings the school along that path to restoring the once fear-inspiring Hayfield name.

Saturday December 29th, 2007
Michael J. Gilbert Foundation Basketball Tournament third place game

McDonogh School 48 Jericho 41

Trinity University was the site of the third annual Michael J. Gilbert Foundation Basketball Tournament – an event dedicated to AIDS awareness. Its third place game featured McDonogh, out of the Baltimore area defeat Landover, MD’s Jericho Christian Academy, 48-41. The game was hard fought despite fatigue generated by it being the player’s second contest of the day.

McDonogh's do-everything backcourt star, Gerard Sheppard.

“We came down here, and wanted to get three wins” said Dante Evans of McDonogh’s pre-tournament intentions. “We had a bad first game today. I though it was important to win this game, given we played three games in 24 hours”.

The primary catalyst for McDonogh (8-4) was senior guard Gerard Sheppard (22 points), the proverbial straw that stirs his school’s drink, as he shot, defended, passed, and led. Shepard even brought the ball up the floor, despite being double teamed most of the game immediately upon touching the ball.

“I think they saw that during the earlier game, and their scouting report said ‘Stop 13, Stop 13 (Sheppard’s number)” jokingly shared Evans of Jericho’s double team strategy. “Other guys have to make plays in situations like that”.

Jericho (6-5) was led by junior Artie Bell (10 points), and came within two points with 3:21 to play in regulation by attempting to up the game’s tempo, but were outscored 9-2 the close the contest. That McDonogh run of course included Sheppard, who hit three of four free throws in the game’s last 15 seconds.