Impressive Comeback for NCA
Ron Bailey, Publisher
Down almost 29, the Eagles come screaming back.
January 28, 2010 - Last night, National Christian (Fort Washington, MD), hobbled without a contributor held out for scholastic reasons, found itself down 19 in the third quarter, and seemingly having no answer for neighborhood rival Progressive Christian (Camp Springs, MD). The proverbial fat lady seemed to sing for the Eagles; Coach Trevor Brown's team looked to have no answers.
Wrong, they did have one, in the form of a 1-2-1-1 full court press, a scheme that left Progessive baffled as turnover after turnover were produced, and NCA took full advantage: With around sevin minutes to go in the game, their deficit had been whittled to 10, at the 6:41 mark just seven. Junior guard Jerrelle Briggs' two free throws 22 seconds later pulled NCA within five (he finished with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals).
Jerrelle Briggs (4) finds Javon Moore (5) in first half action.
Brown noted of his full court defense, "That's like our signature press since I started coaching. So I know we can always rely on that to change the pace of the game, to mix up the other team, to check and see if the other team has a press break. So tonight, it came in handy".
His post game comments are here.
A Briggs' steal and layup with two minutes and 17 seconds in regulation established the deficit at two, and his follow up at 1:12 to narrowed Progressive's advantage to 59-58.
PCA's senior center, Moses Ayegba almost saved the game for the Conquerors, notching is 13th block, defense that allowed his team to regain possession. But another NCA steal, this time on an inbounds play with 14.6 seconds to go, resulted in Briggs being fouled. He missed the first, and made the second. A PCA shot then rimmed out, producing overtime at 59 all.
NCA held on to prevail 65-61 in the extra session.
Kervin Rameau was all over the place.
"We just had fighting power. Coach Brown told us if we keep working hard we would come out with the victory, and we did" said the game's leading scorer, NCA's junior guard, Javon Moore, who provided 26 points and eight steals. (For his post game interview, click here).
Ayegba had 15 points for PCA, while junior swingman Kervin Rameau dropped a team leading 16 points.
NCA is now 14-4, while Progressive stands 9-5. Up next for the latter is matchup at Ideal (DC), 715p Friday evening, and National is set to take on Ballou on the road, Friday.
Notes: NCA senior guard, Deji Egbeyemi scored 10 points in only his third game of the season. He's been cleared to play after a leg ailment.
NCA junior guard T. Trim had eight steals.
Georgetown's head coach, John Thompson III was in the house, as was his father, John Thompson, Jr. Reportedly another coach from St. Frances (PA) also saw the contest.