The TSHC Met Objective

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Kids competed and a few used Temperament Sport's Holiday Classic to widely impress.

January 4, 2010 – According to Zach Suber, Temperament Sports principal and long time AAU/travel team coach with DC Assault, that organization’s Holiday Classic was initiated and operationalized to “promote some of the local high school talent”, specifically those players not enrolled in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference institutions. It is Suber’s contention given that league’s status as one of America’s best at the high school level, players at its schools don’t lack attention. Many share the opinion.

Below are scores and pictures from the Temperament Sports Holiday Classic. Host school Riverdale Baptist should be commended for its professional game management as well.

Northwestern (MD) 80 Spingarn (DC) 28

Despite the lopsided score, Spingarn fought to the end, and according to Suber, “played the right way”. What was meant by that? “That team played to the end” he offered. “They didn’t always make the shot, but they were in the right places, and were listening to their coach (Keith Jackson)”. And he was coaching to the end also”. In short, Suber was impressed with the Green Wave in a losing cause.

From an individual perspective, junior Northwestern forward Obie Oleka dropped 16 points, turning heads and winning the contest’s Most Outstanding Player award. Senior guard Khalil Tate dropped 15 points, while junior floor leader Torre Sommerville supplied 13 himself.

Spingarn received eight points from Khalil Legion, while Lamont Williams dropped five.

Chavez (DC) 84 Riverdale Baptist (73)

Devin 'Lil Scrappy' Shuler: A guard that just makes plays - shooting, assisting or defending - all within a team concept. Needs to get stronger and will.

Making plays down the stretch, freshman guard Devon ‘Lil Scrappy’ Shuler led Chavez’s come from behind bid to outpace host Riverdale. Though he didn’t pace his team in scoring – that would have been senior swingman Markee Mazyck with 21 points – Shuler’s all around input, including shots (14 points), assists and harassing defense earned him Chavez' MOP honor.

Keon Hill: Offensively aggressive, Hill likes to play full speed. Needs to change that up sometime, and work on becoming more of a pass first guy.

Junior Keon Hill, an explosive guard led Riverdale Baptist with 16 points and three assists, while fellow third year player, guard/forward Jerome Tolson chipped in 15. Hill was his team’s MOP.

KIMA (DC) 67 Progressive Christian Academy (MD) 60 OT

KIMA was able to pull away in overtime, an extra session following back and forth the entire game. Emotions ran high, with several technical fouls being assessed.

Devon Martin: Athletic and tough, hill likes to attack the rim and defend. Needs to define a position for college, likely becoming more of a pure guard.

For the victors, senior guard Devon Martin chipped in 17 points, a total matched by teammate and fellow soon-to-be graduate Eugene McCrory. Forward/center Jonathan Alredge, headed to George Mason University next year, scored 10 points for his team.

Jordan Goodman: Standing 6'9", Goodman can shoot the three well. Needs to get more than two dribbles going to the hole, defend/bang down low consistently - in short illustrate diversity.

PCA’s sophomore swingman Jordan Goodman, received MOP honors with 17 points. KIMA’s Martin took hiom similar hardware.

Eleanor Roosevelt (MD) 53 Douglass (MD) 45

Angelo Williams (shooting): A streak shooter, Williams can destroy defenses with his relentless approach. Also has heart in other aspects of the game. For college, needs to be more of a ball handler.

A tight game throughout, Roosevelt, a PG 4A institution outlasted Douglass, classified in the smaller 2A league, despite the play of senior guard Angelo Williams (14 points), Douglass’ MOP. Sophomore Kevon Glover provided a promising nine points for that squad.

Roosevelt’s junior guard Howard Wilder scored 13 much needed points, while his team’s MOP, Prince Okoroh, a junior swingman, was responsible for 16.

Prince Okoroh: Long and athletic, Prince finishes on breaks, rebounds and defends. His jumpshot has been improving, and needs to be exhibited more. Also, ball patting will continue as a part of his development focus.