NCA Garners Win by Amplifying Intensity

February 18, 2006 – Facing the Southern Maryland Christian Academy Mustangs (SM) for the second time, National Christian Academy (NC) found themselves down 45-35 at the 3:26 mark of the third quarter. From that point on the Eagles, coached by Trevor Brown, closed the game with a 20 point scoring differential, thereby earning a 71-61 win.

NC was led by juniors Anthony McClain (20 points, 18 rebounds, 8 blocks) and Antonio Haymon (20 points, 7 rebounds), along with sophomore Wilbur O’Neal (10 points, 15 rebounds). The Van Whitfield coached Mustangs received notable contributions from a pair of juniors – Jeremiah Bowman (18 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds) and Gary Artis (10 points, 10 rebounds).

After NC raced to a 14-4 first quarter lead, SM would only trail 31-30, at the half. They would then go on a 15-4 run, with Bowman being key to this effort. As a result of the SM’s scoring prowess, which included layups by Artis, Bowman and Kendall Durant (7 points), NC was forced to take a timeout to regroup at the 3:26 mark.

And regroup they did. Haymon immediately scored on a tip in and a fast break lay up. He also would later sink a couple of three balls. Regarding his offensive tear, Antonio shared “I wasn’t doing too well at halftime, and we were down by eight, and I felt it was time for us to go up by eight, so I just went to work”. That description of his play can accurately be described as doing a multitude of things to help his team win.

O’Neal would be a factor during this pivotal stretch as well. He not only scored, but continued to wipe the glass for NC. When asked to comment on his contribution, the forward said “They (the coaches) just told me to try and take over the game, be myself, keep going toward the basket, and to play hard. To keep doing what I do”.

SM’s Whitfield was well aware of NC’s size advantage (the two teams recently played, with NC prevailing at SM 82-77), and devised a defense that for awhile negated it. The Mustangs employed a 2-3 match up zone, in which the back line defenders sagged deeply. According to him, this was done to address “their size”; McClain stands seven foot one, while Haymon and O’Neal are six foot six.

Brown of NC decided during their aforementioned timeout that his team’s intensity was waning. As a result, they switched out of their 2-3 match up zone, and employed an aggressive man to man, which seemed to a degree to energize the Eagles. “The switch to a man (defense) was good there for a minute” he said. “It got us like a six point lead. But then we switched back to a zone, and then what we did was cut off the three point shot”, thereby forcing SM “to go to their big guys, and force them to make plays”.

Of course the towering McClain was there to deny that from happening. When asked to comment on his propensity to block shots, he responded, “I always try focus on my blocked shots. That’s a big part of my game, with me being a seven footer”.

Whitfield opined his opponents “raised their intensity and we didn’t”, which would result in the Mustangs losing. His guard, Bowman, expressed a similar thought when he said, “They just out-played us” during the decisive late third and early fourth quarters.

Brown concurred, as he opined that “turning up the intensity” was the reason for the Eagles victory. “The refs were letting them play…they (his team) just picked up their intensity…They started pounding it inside, offensive rebounding, and giving them one rebound”.

McClain was also a primary figure in the Eagle’s low post focus late in the game, scoring two put backs, an at the rim shot, and a dunk. He commented “It was a crucial point in the game”, and as such his team needed him to score, so he did.

The Mustangs are now 23-4. Whitfield shared this contest was their “third game in three days”, but these road warriors are at it again on Saturday, traveling to New Jersey to play a highly regarded team out of the Camden area. According their coach, Whitfield, this kind of killer schedule is done “to generate exposure” for his charges.

NC’s Eagles are 14-13, and have a big game with Riverdale Baptist next Saturday (2.25.06). As is the case with Brown coached teams, they are peaking at the right time.

Check back with i95Ballerz.com for future coverage of these young, exciting and talented teams.

Mustings Huddling

Jeremiah Bowman

Antonio Haymon

Anthony McClain