Here’s the Day 2 Recap of the Christmas Crossover. Again, thanks to all of the teams that participated, it was some good basketball action before the holidays!
Texas Christian-44 vs Dallas iSchool-49
Dallas iSchool having played 3 games in 2 days, you could see the fatigue started to set in. They started the game slowly only scoring 10 points, but defensively they maintained their intensity, holding the Tigers to only 4 points. The 2nd quarter was much of the same as the score was a whopping 20-11. Johnathan Aku was dominant inside for iSchool finishing with 17 points and 16 rebounds (7 offensive) against the biggest front line he’ll see all year. TCS would pick it up in the second half scoring 33 points, led by freshman guard Austin Benigi’s 11 points. Jordan Mays was the next highest scorer with 9 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. iSchool’s Quevian Adger had 11 & 6 in the win.
Woodlands Christian-86 vs Lawton Christian (Oklahoma)-63
Woodlands Christian came to Delmar to handle business and put people on notice that they’re back and looking for another state crown. They jumped out to a 31-15 lead, behind the play of 2020 PG Bakari Lastrap and the hot shooting of the “Brothers Golaszweksi”. Nash and Zach G would combine to go 9-19 behind the 3 point line. LC would be paced by their super sophomore PG Devon Barnes, 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, I would say he put in a full day’s work. I was impressed with 6’10 freshman big man Didier Kanyida. He amassed a 13 point, 11 rebound double-double and 5 blocked shots to boot. Ta’riq Jordan also scored in double figures for LC, finishing with 14 points. But this game was all Woodlands Christian, Lastrap’s line was 20 points 8 assists, Nash G, 18 points & 5 rebounds, Zach G, 19 points and 5 assists. When they play like this, they are hard to beat!
Foster- 47 vs Universal Academy(Dallas)-94
When looking at this match up I thought this game would be a good test for Foster, especially with their two football players, Reuben Fatheree, and Tayvion Peavy, who are starters on the basketball team, back in action. Unfortunately this test was harder than Chinese arithmetic. Universal came out on fire and looked like the experienced team they are. They would take a 44-26 lead into the half behind 2020 forward Jaquan Scott’s 13 points and Arthur Kaluma’s 9 points and 7 rebounds. Foster’s freshman back court tried to keep them afloat, Cam Amboree, 9 points, and Chancelor White, 8 points, were the lone bright spots in the 1st half for Foster. Universal didn’t let up in the 2nds half coming right out and scoring 22 points in the 3rd quarter, while holding Foster to only 14. A key sign of how this game went, Foster had 7 assists to 22 turnovers, while Universal had 25 assists to 9 turnovers. Scott and Kaluma would get several big dunks on the break, and Jaylin Posey got his offense going, scoring 10 points in the 2nd half to finish with 16. Kaluma was fantastic, a game high 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Scott scored 20 and grabbed 8 boards. Jimel Cofer scored 10 points and had 5 assists. Foster’s White and Peavy scored 14 points a piece, and Amboree had 10.
Concordia Lutheran-64 vs C.H. Flowers (MD)-44
Coming off of a big win Friday night, maybe Concordia Lutheran would have a little “big win hangover” vs Flowers, but that rarely happens with well coached teams. CL didn’t start the game as great offensively, but their defense was phenomenal, holding Flowers to only 20 1st half points, only allowing four points int he 2nd quarter. RJ Keene got them going in the 3rd quarter knocking down 3 of his 5 made 3’s. In an off shooting night for his teammates, Keene held them down with a 7-9 night including a blistering 5-7 from 3 to finish with a game high 21 points, and 7 rebounds. Montavious Murphy struggled from the field but managed a double double of 11 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 blocks! Pierce Hellums scored 13, and Evan Palmquist finished with 10 points. CH Flowers was led by Mikkah Tobias who had a strong double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Brian Brooks Jr would lead the team with 13 points.
Bellaire-73 vs Crescent City (LA)-58
Missing its starting point guard AJ Ragland, Bellaire would be down one of its leaders against a scrappy Crescent City team. I was curious to see who would step up and fill that void, and Elijah Lawrence definitely made sure his Cardinal team didn’t miss a beat. They jumped out to a 22-8 lead after the 1st quarter, as Lawrence went 2-3 from 3 and scored 11 points. Senior guard Doug Young got it going in the 2nd quarter hitting several pull up jumpers in the lane and a couple of tough 3 pointers to finish 14 points in the 1st half, as his team led 38-27. The second half would be the Zach Harris and Lawrence show as they both score 12 points a piece keeping Crescent at arms length. Lawrence scored on all 3 levels this game, and looked like he needs more minutes as the season progresses. He would finish with a game high 23 point. Harris scored 17, and Young finished with 16. Crescent City was lead by crafty point guard Byron Joshua’s 14 points, followed by Trayslon Wilburn, 13, and Jordin Farrell’s double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Elkins- 73 vs Holy Spirit (GA)-80
After losing to Concordia Lutheran the night before, I knew Anthony Edwards and his Holy Spirit team would play with a lot more intensity against a really good Elkins team. You could tell both teams were super turned up for this game, and the nerves of the kids showed as turnovers plagued both sides in the early minutes of the 1st quarter. Holy Spirit would jump out to a 25-9 lead after the 1st quarter. Elkins would have a better 2nd quarter as Collin Warren and Donovan Williams started to exert themselves into the game. Elkins still trailed 42-30 at the half but you could get a sense that the game was far from over. Edwards would get it going early for his team, getting a chance to see man to man defense, he took full advantage scoring 18 points, including a monster dunk down the lane that has since gone viral. Elkins dynamic duo of Warren and Williams would have some highlight plays of their own, including a big block on Edwards by Donovan and a poster dunk by Warren. Elkins would could cut the lead to 2 in the 4th quarter but whenever it seemed like they were going to take the lead, Deandre Brown of Holy Spirit would make a big shot to increase the lead. Edwards scored 32 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, Brown would finish with 24 points, hitting four 3’s. Warren had a team high 27 for Elkins, followed by Williams’ 21 points.