Chavez Lapses to NCA's Advantage

Ron Bailey, Publisher

NCA gets impressive road win.

January 14, 2011- With a final score of 82-59, and double digit leads eclipsing 20 points regularly, many would conclude National Christian's (MD) road victory last night over Chavez (DC) to never be entertaining, basically standing as a cake walk. Not so, just ask Chavez' coach, Malcolm Battle.

"The sad thing, is they played so hard" shared a tired Battle post game. "To negate how hard they played with a lack of ball security...The damage was done over three minutes".

Malcolm Clarke finds his path the hoop challenged by Mike Kobani.

Battle referenced a three minute-plus, first half stretch, in which NCA's 16-6 lead ballooned to over twenty. With 1:43 left in the second quarter, NCA was up 35-19. Though Chavez got to within 11 twice in the fourth quarter and battled tooth-and-nail, NCA's early lead was insurmountable.

What led to the victor's win?

First off, height, as NCA's coach, Trevor Brown noted "they (Chavez) don't have much size this year" whereas his team boasts a starting lineup ranging from 6'2" to 6'8". Add length and athleticism to the mix, and there was little doubt why Brown's team immediately attacked the rim; their first possession ended in an alley oop dunk.

NCA (10-2) received 17 points from three players - senior guards Jerrelle Briggs and Javon Moore, plus sophomore forward Mike Kobani. The latter also snagged 16 rebounds.

After starting to extend their lead, NCA was able to stymie Chavez with a 1-2-1-1 press, backed by their 2-3 zone, leading to Battle's aforementioned fateful, three minute stretch.

Ironically Chavez (12-6) also benefited from full court pressure, using a 2-1-2 to as Brown said "slow us down" as "It caught us off guard", during the games' early stage.

Senior guard/forward Malcolm Clarke tallied a game high 25 points, while junior guard Charles Allen finished with 15 for Chavez.