By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Two-time NBA champion Josh Powell led Lucky Seven into their match-up against Body of Christ for the final game of Thursday night at the Greater NC Pro-Am.
Lucky Seven got to work early with Powell and teammate J.B. Wilson throwing down highlight dunks. In the final seconds of the quarter, Jose Frias contributed to the team's early scoring with a reverse scoop off the glass that pushed Lucky Seven to a 16-9 lead going into the first break.
Rhode Island's Akeem Richmond started to get hot for Body of Christ in the second quarter, and eventually hit a three pointer that gave his team a one point lead. The advantage was not held for long, as Lucky Seven's Hayward Fain made plays on both sides of the court. Fain helped retake the lead for his team, and Wilson's two-handed slam with just six seconds to go put Lucky Seven ahead by five at the half.
No one could stop Lucky Seven in the opening minutes of the second half, as they stormed out to a 14 point lead that led to a Body of Christ timeout with 5:24 left in the third quarter. Richmond hit a pair of free throws to close out the third quarter, but his team still had a 55-42 deficit to fight heading into the final period of play.
Lucky Seven led by as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter, but Richmond would not let his team go down quietly. With 40 seconds to go, Richmond hit the final three of his 11 straight points after single-handedly bringing Body of Christ back into the game.
In the end, it was not enough. Despite Richmond's 27 points, Lucky Seven sealed the victory after Terrell McIntire hit all four of his free throw attempts in the final minute. Lucky Seven got the win, 75-69.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Team Stackhouse 70 Team Jamison 69
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
After suffering their first loss of the season earlier this week, Team Stackhouse bounced back to defeat Team Jamison in a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Duke senior Nolan Smith suited up for Team Jamison, but struggled from long range in the opening half. While Smith had trouble finding his touch from deep, his teammates got involved, and Lance Randall's lay-in at the end of the first quarter put Team Jamison ahead, 18-13.
Team Stackhouse's E.J. Williams was a key contributor on the other end, but his team trailed by nine at halftime after his teammates Charles Ward and Chris Hill were unable to hit their shots from the charity stripe in the second quarter. Williams was huge in the second half, scoring 17 of his 26 points in the final two quarters. He also dished out plenty of assists to get other members of Team Stackhouse involved, and Jolly Manning's three point play in the final minute of the third quarter cut the margin to two. Smith finally found his stroke just in time to kill the run, hitting a three at the buzzer to stretch his team's lead to 54-49.
Smith and Williams played tremendously in the final period, going back and forth, hitting several impressive buckets. At the nine minute mark, Smith brought the crowd to its feet after converting a four point play, but Williams silenced the fans in dark blue with a long range three in response.
With four minutes to go in the game, Ward missed the second of two free throws, but Manning skied for the rebound and passed the ball to Ward who dropped in a lay-up despite getting fouled. After hitting the bonus, Ward gave Team Stackhouse a 60-58 lead.
The game remained close to the end, and Team Jamison, trailing by one, in-bounded the ball with 26.2 seconds on the clock. Smith dribbled some time off the clock so his team could get the last shot. As the seconds wound down, Smith found Omar Khannai open in the corner for three, but Khannai was unable to hit the shot. Team Stackhouse escaped with close victory of 70-69.
After suffering their first loss of the season earlier this week, Team Stackhouse bounced back to defeat Team Jamison in a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Duke senior Nolan Smith suited up for Team Jamison, but struggled from long range in the opening half. While Smith had trouble finding his touch from deep, his teammates got involved, and Lance Randall's lay-in at the end of the first quarter put Team Jamison ahead, 18-13.
Team Stackhouse's E.J. Williams was a key contributor on the other end, but his team trailed by nine at halftime after his teammates Charles Ward and Chris Hill were unable to hit their shots from the charity stripe in the second quarter. Williams was huge in the second half, scoring 17 of his 26 points in the final two quarters. He also dished out plenty of assists to get other members of Team Stackhouse involved, and Jolly Manning's three point play in the final minute of the third quarter cut the margin to two. Smith finally found his stroke just in time to kill the run, hitting a three at the buzzer to stretch his team's lead to 54-49.
Smith and Williams played tremendously in the final period, going back and forth, hitting several impressive buckets. At the nine minute mark, Smith brought the crowd to its feet after converting a four point play, but Williams silenced the fans in dark blue with a long range three in response.
With four minutes to go in the game, Ward missed the second of two free throws, but Manning skied for the rebound and passed the ball to Ward who dropped in a lay-up despite getting fouled. After hitting the bonus, Ward gave Team Stackhouse a 60-58 lead.
The game remained close to the end, and Team Jamison, trailing by one, in-bounded the ball with 26.2 seconds on the clock. Smith dribbled some time off the clock so his team could get the last shot. As the seconds wound down, Smith found Omar Khannai open in the corner for three, but Khannai was unable to hit the shot. Team Stackhouse escaped with close victory of 70-69.
Coaches in Christ 72 Team McGladrey 67 (2 OT)
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Fans witnessed the first double-overtime thriller of the summer at the Greater NC Pro-Am in the second game of the evening, as Coaches in Christ snagged the victory over Team McGladrey.
Jawad Williams dressed out for Team McGladrey and showed off his range early with a pull-up three ball in the first quarter. Coaches in Christ's Billy McDade responded on the other end with a two-hand jam, but Hayward Fan's floater at the buzzer put Team McGladrey up 18-17 after the first period.
Team McGladrey appeared to be putting the game away in the second quarter, after a Williams three ball capped an 11-0 run to put them up by 14, but Marques Oliver's three point play ended the run and sparked some life into Coaches in Christ. McDade hit a free throw later in the quarter to convert a three point play of his own, bringing his team back within seven. Fain stepped up on the other end, however, and his two successful free throw attempts with three seconds on the clock pushed Team McGladrey to a 42-32 halftime lead.
McDade scored seven points for his team in the third quarter as Coaches in Christ began to close in on the lead, but Dwayne Sims hit a pair of deep jumpers to keep a nine point lead going into the final period. In the last 10 minutes of regulation, Coaches in Christ clawed their way back into the game, and with 1:37 left, Oliver was good in completing another three point play to tie the game at 64-64. Both teams struggled at finding the basket in the closing seconds, and Fain's prayer before the buzzer fell short and Chris Hill was unable to tip in the rebound. The score remained at 64-64.
Overtime.
In the two minute overtime period, each team was hesitant and kept from forcing shots. At the 1:25 mark, Fain was dribbling at the top of the key when Fain stole the rock and took it to the other end for the high percentage slam. Oliver had an answer, grabbing two points down low after a pass from McDade. On the final possession of the first overtime, Fain dribbled out the clock for the final shot, but McDade rejected his attempt and the putbacks did not go. The game was forced to double overtime.
Greater NC Pro Am rules state that the first team to score five points in the second overtime is awarded the victory. Coaches in Christ's Terrence Sutton made an immediate statement with a follow-up slam to get the first two points for his team. Hill knocked down the first of two free throws for Team McGladrey after being fouled by Sutton, but Norbert Randall's basket just seconds later put Coaches in Christ just one point away from victory. Down the stretch, Team McGladrey could not find a way to score, and Oliver's tip-in bucket got the W for Coaches in Christ, 72-67.
Fans witnessed the first double-overtime thriller of the summer at the Greater NC Pro-Am in the second game of the evening, as Coaches in Christ snagged the victory over Team McGladrey.
Jawad Williams dressed out for Team McGladrey and showed off his range early with a pull-up three ball in the first quarter. Coaches in Christ's Billy McDade responded on the other end with a two-hand jam, but Hayward Fan's floater at the buzzer put Team McGladrey up 18-17 after the first period.
Team McGladrey appeared to be putting the game away in the second quarter, after a Williams three ball capped an 11-0 run to put them up by 14, but Marques Oliver's three point play ended the run and sparked some life into Coaches in Christ. McDade hit a free throw later in the quarter to convert a three point play of his own, bringing his team back within seven. Fain stepped up on the other end, however, and his two successful free throw attempts with three seconds on the clock pushed Team McGladrey to a 42-32 halftime lead.
McDade scored seven points for his team in the third quarter as Coaches in Christ began to close in on the lead, but Dwayne Sims hit a pair of deep jumpers to keep a nine point lead going into the final period. In the last 10 minutes of regulation, Coaches in Christ clawed their way back into the game, and with 1:37 left, Oliver was good in completing another three point play to tie the game at 64-64. Both teams struggled at finding the basket in the closing seconds, and Fain's prayer before the buzzer fell short and Chris Hill was unable to tip in the rebound. The score remained at 64-64.
Overtime.
In the two minute overtime period, each team was hesitant and kept from forcing shots. At the 1:25 mark, Fain was dribbling at the top of the key when Fain stole the rock and took it to the other end for the high percentage slam. Oliver had an answer, grabbing two points down low after a pass from McDade. On the final possession of the first overtime, Fain dribbled out the clock for the final shot, but McDade rejected his attempt and the putbacks did not go. The game was forced to double overtime.
Greater NC Pro Am rules state that the first team to score five points in the second overtime is awarded the victory. Coaches in Christ's Terrence Sutton made an immediate statement with a follow-up slam to get the first two points for his team. Hill knocked down the first of two free throws for Team McGladrey after being fouled by Sutton, but Norbert Randall's basket just seconds later put Coaches in Christ just one point away from victory. Down the stretch, Team McGladrey could not find a way to score, and Oliver's tip-in bucket got the W for Coaches in Christ, 72-67.
Team Navy drops Team 212, 87-78
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
It was raining three pointers early Thursday night at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium as NCCU sharp shooter Landon Clement and Team 212 tipped off against Jawad Williams and Team Navy.
Team 212 got off to an early lead after Clement knocked down three trey balls early in the first quarter. After a timeout with 2:14 remaining in the first period, Team Navy bounced back as Charles Ward and former ECU standout Derrick Wiley took over the game to reclaim a one point lead going into the first intermission.
Jawad Williams added on to Team Navy's success later in the first half, knocking down a pair of free throws and later converting an old-fashioned three point play. With six seconds remaining before halftime, Team Navy's Andre McCollum drove to the rack for the final basket of the second quarter, putting his team up by a score of 39-34.
Clement, who had 24 points on the game, continued to put on a three point shooting clinic in the second half. Despite his dominance from the perimeter, the opposition seemed to always have an answer on the other end. Toward the end of the third quarter, Dominique Sutton penetrated through the lane for a lay-up that stretched Team Navy's lead to 14.
Team 212 would not go down easy, though. Charles Futrell scored a quick seven points to cut the deficit to five. After a timeout by Team Navy with just over six minutes remaining, Wiley and Ward once again led their team on a run to maintain a comfortable lead. Their opponents were unable to recover, and Team Navy came away with an 87-78 win.
It was raining three pointers early Thursday night at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium as NCCU sharp shooter Landon Clement and Team 212 tipped off against Jawad Williams and Team Navy.
Team 212 got off to an early lead after Clement knocked down three trey balls early in the first quarter. After a timeout with 2:14 remaining in the first period, Team Navy bounced back as Charles Ward and former ECU standout Derrick Wiley took over the game to reclaim a one point lead going into the first intermission.
Jawad Williams added on to Team Navy's success later in the first half, knocking down a pair of free throws and later converting an old-fashioned three point play. With six seconds remaining before halftime, Team Navy's Andre McCollum drove to the rack for the final basket of the second quarter, putting his team up by a score of 39-34.
Clement, who had 24 points on the game, continued to put on a three point shooting clinic in the second half. Despite his dominance from the perimeter, the opposition seemed to always have an answer on the other end. Toward the end of the third quarter, Dominique Sutton penetrated through the lane for a lay-up that stretched Team Navy's lead to 14.
Team 212 would not go down easy, though. Charles Futrell scored a quick seven points to cut the deficit to five. After a timeout by Team Navy with just over six minutes remaining, Wiley and Ward once again led their team on a run to maintain a comfortable lead. Their opponents were unable to recover, and Team Navy came away with an 87-78 win.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Duke Guards Could Be Among Nation's Elite
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Nolan Smith has only made two appearances at the Greater NC Pro-Am this summer, but his 38.5 points per game average is higher than any single game point total reached by any other player in the league. Furthermore, he has displayed excellent ability to get to the basket, which can go along with his improved ball-handling skills.
Smith's Duke teammate, incoming freshman Kyrie Irving, has been sensational in his four regular season games. One of the most polished point guards in the recruiting class of 2010, Irving is expected to step in as an immediate starter for the Blue Devils. Breaking the 30 point mark on two occasions this season, he has shown off his scoring capabilities and his strength of making all the right decisions.
With a proven veteran in Smith and a freshman phenom in Irving, Duke boasts what may ultimately prove to be the best backcourt in the nation. The older of the two averaged 17.4 points per game last season, including a 29 point performance over Baylor in the Elite Eight. Smith's role will only increase with the departure of First Team All-ACC guard Jon Scheyer, but Irving's presence is likely to ease the transition as he has lived up to the hype throughout this summer, offering a skill-set that is unmatched by most other point guards in the conference.
What makes the offensive juggernaut even scarier is the depth that they will have at the guard position this season. Sophomore Andre Dawkins will see increased minutes and could potentially compete for a starting spot with redshirt sophomore Seth Curry, who will be eligible to participate this season. Both have been impressive this summer, most notably last Thursday when they went head-to-head against one another, as Dawkins dropped an eye-opening 36 points and Curry came up with 28 on the other end.
The talent held within this backcourt will drive opposing coaches insane. When one player has an off night, there will likely be another to pick up the slack. Duke will have at least one guard coming off the bench that most other teams in the country would love to have as a starter. That can only mean good things for the team in dark blue.
Nolan Smith has only made two appearances at the Greater NC Pro-Am this summer, but his 38.5 points per game average is higher than any single game point total reached by any other player in the league. Furthermore, he has displayed excellent ability to get to the basket, which can go along with his improved ball-handling skills.
Smith's Duke teammate, incoming freshman Kyrie Irving, has been sensational in his four regular season games. One of the most polished point guards in the recruiting class of 2010, Irving is expected to step in as an immediate starter for the Blue Devils. Breaking the 30 point mark on two occasions this season, he has shown off his scoring capabilities and his strength of making all the right decisions.
With a proven veteran in Smith and a freshman phenom in Irving, Duke boasts what may ultimately prove to be the best backcourt in the nation. The older of the two averaged 17.4 points per game last season, including a 29 point performance over Baylor in the Elite Eight. Smith's role will only increase with the departure of First Team All-ACC guard Jon Scheyer, but Irving's presence is likely to ease the transition as he has lived up to the hype throughout this summer, offering a skill-set that is unmatched by most other point guards in the conference.
What makes the offensive juggernaut even scarier is the depth that they will have at the guard position this season. Sophomore Andre Dawkins will see increased minutes and could potentially compete for a starting spot with redshirt sophomore Seth Curry, who will be eligible to participate this season. Both have been impressive this summer, most notably last Thursday when they went head-to-head against one another, as Dawkins dropped an eye-opening 36 points and Curry came up with 28 on the other end.
The talent held within this backcourt will drive opposing coaches insane. When one player has an off night, there will likely be another to pick up the slack. Duke will have at least one guard coming off the bench that most other teams in the country would love to have as a starter. That can only mean good things for the team in dark blue.
Lucky Seven 74 Team Stackhouse 63
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
A pair of NBA stars took the floor in the final contest of Tuesday night as Josh Powell and Lucky Seven gave Jawad Williams and Team Stackhouse their first loss of the season.
Fans were brought to their feet early in the opening minutes, as Powell skied to finish an alley-oop slam, pushing his team to an early lead. Miles Plumlee kept the game from getting out of hand early for Team Stackhouse, scoring each of his team's first seven points. E.J. Williams came off the bench to score a quick five points to reclaim the lead for Team Stackhouse, but Lucky Seven held the advantage after the first quarter after Adam Constantine hit a jumper with 20 seconds remaining in the period.
Williams displayed his ability to hit shots from deep, taking the lead for his team with a three ball midway through the second quarter. Jalen Jones increased the margin to four by hitting a pair of free throws, but Powell's presence down low brought Lucky Seven right back in the game. With 15 seconds left in the half, Powell got two points in the post, knotting the game at 30-30 going into halftime.
Powell took over in the second half, becoming a scoring machine for Lucky Seven. Plumlee hit a couple of trey balls for Team Stackhouse, but Powell helped his team to a ten point lead after converting a three point play the old-fashioned way. Williams added on to Team Stackhouse's perimeter shooting with two more three balls at the end of the third quarter, and his team trailed by just seven going into the final period.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter, Powell picked up right where he left off, slamming in two of his 29 points to keep the scoring going. Although Powell could not be stopped on offense, Team Stackhouse found more scoring from Williams, who ended the game with 22 points. It appeared that Lucky Seven's advantage was being threatened, but Hayward Fain drew a charge off Plumlee with 1:11 remaining to seal the deal. Lucky Seven grabbed a big win, 74-63.
A pair of NBA stars took the floor in the final contest of Tuesday night as Josh Powell and Lucky Seven gave Jawad Williams and Team Stackhouse their first loss of the season.
Fans were brought to their feet early in the opening minutes, as Powell skied to finish an alley-oop slam, pushing his team to an early lead. Miles Plumlee kept the game from getting out of hand early for Team Stackhouse, scoring each of his team's first seven points. E.J. Williams came off the bench to score a quick five points to reclaim the lead for Team Stackhouse, but Lucky Seven held the advantage after the first quarter after Adam Constantine hit a jumper with 20 seconds remaining in the period.
Williams displayed his ability to hit shots from deep, taking the lead for his team with a three ball midway through the second quarter. Jalen Jones increased the margin to four by hitting a pair of free throws, but Powell's presence down low brought Lucky Seven right back in the game. With 15 seconds left in the half, Powell got two points in the post, knotting the game at 30-30 going into halftime.
Powell took over in the second half, becoming a scoring machine for Lucky Seven. Plumlee hit a couple of trey balls for Team Stackhouse, but Powell helped his team to a ten point lead after converting a three point play the old-fashioned way. Williams added on to Team Stackhouse's perimeter shooting with two more three balls at the end of the third quarter, and his team trailed by just seven going into the final period.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter, Powell picked up right where he left off, slamming in two of his 29 points to keep the scoring going. Although Powell could not be stopped on offense, Team Stackhouse found more scoring from Williams, who ended the game with 22 points. It appeared that Lucky Seven's advantage was being threatened, but Hayward Fain drew a charge off Plumlee with 1:11 remaining to seal the deal. Lucky Seven grabbed a big win, 74-63.
D1 Sports 79 Hendrick of Durham 72
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Duke fans were in for another treat in the third game of the night as Ryan Kelly and D1 Sports squared off with Kyrie Irving and Hendrick of Durham.
The game remained close throughout a high scoring first quarter, as Kelly's accurate shooting from the field was countered by Chris Hill's attack for the high percentage shot. Hill threw down a pair of two-handed dunks at the end of the opening period, but D1 Sports held on to a 26-23 lead.
Michael Deloach and NCCU sophomore Nick Chasten contributed several buckets for Hendrick of Durham in the second quarter, but James Crowder and Jared Johnson each found their way to the free throw line to extend the lead for D1 Sports. Kelly's slam dunk with 20 seconds remaining stretched the deficit to nine and left Hendrick of Durham trailing at halftime by a score of 48-39.
Hendrick of Durham stepped up in the third quarter, racking up points to close the gap. Irving's breakaway lay-up followed by a pair of free throws by Deloach brought the score within two, but Jeffrey Hunter's three for D1 Sports put an end to the run.
With just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Chasten hit the second of two free throws to trim the difference to two, but it was as close as Hendrick of Durham would get. Hunter answered with another three pointer, and D1 Sports never recovered. Kelly scored 21 points and Crowder had 18 points as D1 Sports pulled off the win by a margin of 79-72.
Duke fans were in for another treat in the third game of the night as Ryan Kelly and D1 Sports squared off with Kyrie Irving and Hendrick of Durham.
The game remained close throughout a high scoring first quarter, as Kelly's accurate shooting from the field was countered by Chris Hill's attack for the high percentage shot. Hill threw down a pair of two-handed dunks at the end of the opening period, but D1 Sports held on to a 26-23 lead.
Michael Deloach and NCCU sophomore Nick Chasten contributed several buckets for Hendrick of Durham in the second quarter, but James Crowder and Jared Johnson each found their way to the free throw line to extend the lead for D1 Sports. Kelly's slam dunk with 20 seconds remaining stretched the deficit to nine and left Hendrick of Durham trailing at halftime by a score of 48-39.
Hendrick of Durham stepped up in the third quarter, racking up points to close the gap. Irving's breakaway lay-up followed by a pair of free throws by Deloach brought the score within two, but Jeffrey Hunter's three for D1 Sports put an end to the run.
With just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Chasten hit the second of two free throws to trim the difference to two, but it was as close as Hendrick of Durham would get. Hunter answered with another three pointer, and D1 Sports never recovered. Kelly scored 21 points and Crowder had 18 points as D1 Sports pulled off the win by a margin of 79-72.
Team Dreamworks 76 Team McGladrey 60
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Team Dreamworks came away with a convincing win in the second game of the evening after defeating Cleveland Cavalier Jawad Williams and Team McGladrey. The game may not have been as exhilarating as the one that preceded it, but Nolan Smith's 41-point performance was possibly the most impressive of the summer.
Mason Plumlee pushed Team Dreamworks to a quick four-point lead, first finding Jeneri Cyrus for two points and then forcing a steal and throwing down a thundering jam. Williams had answers on the other end, knocking down a free throw to convert a three point play and following shortly after with a three ball.
It was then that Smith started his scoring spree.
After hitting a pair of threes, Smith showed off his ball-handling skills, crossing up a defender and penetrating through the lane for a lay-up. Smith had 12 points in the quarter, helping his team to a 27-18 lead at the end of the period.
Marshall Plumlee, a highly touted 2011 recruit who recently committed to Duke, hustled for two second chance points to help extend Team Dreamworks' lead to 11. The team took a 45-32 advantage into halftime after Smith once again broke out his deadly cross-over on two defenders, driving through the paint to get a lay-in at the buzzer.
Rutgers guard Tyree Graham had a strong third quarter for Team McGladrey, hitting an early turnaround jumper and a three pointer off a Williams assist. It was not enough to overcome Smith, however. The Blue Devil guard scored 19 points in the second half, establishing himself as an all-around offensive threat.
"All the hard work that I've put in is really paying off and I can't wait for the season to start," Smith said.
Williams and Graham hit several three pointers in the second half, but it was not enough to cancel out Team Dreamworks' offensive power. Mason put down a follow-up slam off a rare miss by Smith, and Team Dreamworks went on to snatch the win, 76-60.
Smith was seemingly unstoppable on Tuesday night, which drew the question of whether or not anyone in college basketball would be able to stop a back-court made up of he and incoming Duke freshman Kyrie Irving.
"I would like to think nobody can stop us," Smith said. "Me and [Irving] both have a great relationship and our chemistry is going to show for it."
Team Dreamworks came away with a convincing win in the second game of the evening after defeating Cleveland Cavalier Jawad Williams and Team McGladrey. The game may not have been as exhilarating as the one that preceded it, but Nolan Smith's 41-point performance was possibly the most impressive of the summer.
Mason Plumlee pushed Team Dreamworks to a quick four-point lead, first finding Jeneri Cyrus for two points and then forcing a steal and throwing down a thundering jam. Williams had answers on the other end, knocking down a free throw to convert a three point play and following shortly after with a three ball.
It was then that Smith started his scoring spree.
After hitting a pair of threes, Smith showed off his ball-handling skills, crossing up a defender and penetrating through the lane for a lay-up. Smith had 12 points in the quarter, helping his team to a 27-18 lead at the end of the period.
Marshall Plumlee, a highly touted 2011 recruit who recently committed to Duke, hustled for two second chance points to help extend Team Dreamworks' lead to 11. The team took a 45-32 advantage into halftime after Smith once again broke out his deadly cross-over on two defenders, driving through the paint to get a lay-in at the buzzer.
Rutgers guard Tyree Graham had a strong third quarter for Team McGladrey, hitting an early turnaround jumper and a three pointer off a Williams assist. It was not enough to overcome Smith, however. The Blue Devil guard scored 19 points in the second half, establishing himself as an all-around offensive threat.
"All the hard work that I've put in is really paying off and I can't wait for the season to start," Smith said.
Williams and Graham hit several three pointers in the second half, but it was not enough to cancel out Team Dreamworks' offensive power. Mason put down a follow-up slam off a rare miss by Smith, and Team Dreamworks went on to snatch the win, 76-60.
Smith was seemingly unstoppable on Tuesday night, which drew the question of whether or not anyone in college basketball would be able to stop a back-court made up of he and incoming Duke freshman Kyrie Irving.
"I would like to think nobody can stop us," Smith said. "Me and [Irving] both have a great relationship and our chemistry is going to show for it."
Body of Christ defeats Team 212, 70-68
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Tuesday night at the Greater NC Pro-Am started out with a nail-biter as Body of Christ narrowly escaped Team 212 with a two point victory.
The game remained close throughout the first half. Body of Christ's Adarius Pegues, a former Western Kentucky forward, got things started early with a two-handed dunk. He showed off his range just seconds later with a deep two as his team jumped ahead.
NCCU star C.J. Wilkerson found the majority of the buckets for Team 212 in the beginning of the game. After making his first seven free throw attempts, Wilkerson contributed 11 points in the opening quarter, but his team still trailed by one at the first intermission.
Wilkerson's teammates began to heat things up in the second period as Charles Futrell took advantage of a second chance opportunity to reclaim the lead for Team 212. Chris Hill also took part in the action, adding to the team's lead by throwing down a 360 dunk to the crowd's delight. Hill made things happen offensively throughout the half, and led his team to a 28-25 lead going into halftime after converting the old-fashioned three point play with just 2.2 seconds on the clock.
Team 212 stormed out to a nine point lead to start the second half after Futrell made an immediate statement with a pair of electrifying jams. Pegues answered with a quick four points to end the run and keep Body of Christ in the game. Wilkerson increased his offensive production by finding his way to the charity stripe several times throughout the third quarter. After nailing 16 of 17 from the line, Wilkerson scored 24 points on the night.
Despite trailing early in the third period, Body of Christ found some offensive production from Rhode Island guard Akeem Richmond and N.C. State transfer Johnny Thomas. The two combined for three perimeter shots, and Thomas added on with a pair of free throws and a highlight dunk off the backboard to help boost Body of Christ to a six point lead entering the final quarter.
Dwayne Sims would not allow his team to go down without a fight. The NCCU guard kept Team 212 in the game in the final minutes, responding to a Richmond three pointer with a trey of his own with just 13 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to one. Body of Christ's John Brown hit the second of two free throws after drawing a foul, but Wilkerson tied the game with 7.5 second left after being fouled by Thomas.
It appeared the game was headed for overtime, but Thomas stepped up once again to get the clutch points. With just 2.5 seconds remaining, Thomas pulled up for a baseline jumper, but was fouled by Futrell. Thomas was successful on both free throw attempts, and Body of Christ claimed the victory after Futrell's halfcourt prayer bounced off the back of the rim. It was the second time this season that Thomas hit a game-winning bucket, after his buzzer-beating three propelled Body of Christ over Team Jamison in an overtime thriller on July 8.
Tuesday night at the Greater NC Pro-Am started out with a nail-biter as Body of Christ narrowly escaped Team 212 with a two point victory.
The game remained close throughout the first half. Body of Christ's Adarius Pegues, a former Western Kentucky forward, got things started early with a two-handed dunk. He showed off his range just seconds later with a deep two as his team jumped ahead.
NCCU star C.J. Wilkerson found the majority of the buckets for Team 212 in the beginning of the game. After making his first seven free throw attempts, Wilkerson contributed 11 points in the opening quarter, but his team still trailed by one at the first intermission.
Wilkerson's teammates began to heat things up in the second period as Charles Futrell took advantage of a second chance opportunity to reclaim the lead for Team 212. Chris Hill also took part in the action, adding to the team's lead by throwing down a 360 dunk to the crowd's delight. Hill made things happen offensively throughout the half, and led his team to a 28-25 lead going into halftime after converting the old-fashioned three point play with just 2.2 seconds on the clock.
Team 212 stormed out to a nine point lead to start the second half after Futrell made an immediate statement with a pair of electrifying jams. Pegues answered with a quick four points to end the run and keep Body of Christ in the game. Wilkerson increased his offensive production by finding his way to the charity stripe several times throughout the third quarter. After nailing 16 of 17 from the line, Wilkerson scored 24 points on the night.
Despite trailing early in the third period, Body of Christ found some offensive production from Rhode Island guard Akeem Richmond and N.C. State transfer Johnny Thomas. The two combined for three perimeter shots, and Thomas added on with a pair of free throws and a highlight dunk off the backboard to help boost Body of Christ to a six point lead entering the final quarter.
Dwayne Sims would not allow his team to go down without a fight. The NCCU guard kept Team 212 in the game in the final minutes, responding to a Richmond three pointer with a trey of his own with just 13 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to one. Body of Christ's John Brown hit the second of two free throws after drawing a foul, but Wilkerson tied the game with 7.5 second left after being fouled by Thomas.
It appeared the game was headed for overtime, but Thomas stepped up once again to get the clutch points. With just 2.5 seconds remaining, Thomas pulled up for a baseline jumper, but was fouled by Futrell. Thomas was successful on both free throw attempts, and Body of Christ claimed the victory after Futrell's halfcourt prayer bounced off the back of the rim. It was the second time this season that Thomas hit a game-winning bucket, after his buzzer-beating three propelled Body of Christ over Team Jamison in an overtime thriller on July 8.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Team Jamison 103 D1 Sports 98
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
The level of competition was high in the final game Thursday night as Andre Dawkins and D1 Sports tipped off against Seth Curry and Team Jamison.
Dawkins and Curry starting things off early, going back and forth and hitting constant three balls in a high scoring first period. Los Angeles Lakers forward Josh Powell joined Duke's Miles Plumlee to provide some scoring down low for Team Jamison. Their team trailed early, but a Powell lay-in followed by two successful free throws by Curry left Team Jamison trailing only by five at the end of the first period.
Powell continued to dominate down low, muscling in two points over Duke's Ryan Kelly and later banging his way to a bucket off the glass. D1 Sports got things done on the other end, as Dawkins was seemingly unstoppable from three point range. Brandon Smith rained in a trey of his own at the buzzer to stretch D1 Sports' lead to 58-51.
Team Jamison stormed back in the second half, as Curry dished multiple assists to Powell down low. Michko Ndiaye's three ball gave Team Jamison a one point lead, their first since the opening period.
D1 Sports was cold toward the end of the quarter, and Plumlee and Powell took advantage by extending their team's lead to eight points. Dawkins finally ended his team's drought with just under a minute to go, dropping in a deep three, but Team Jamison led 77-70 going into the final period.
Dawkins found his rhythm once again, single-handedly keeping his team in the game. Team Jamison led by nine, but D1 Sports came back after a behind-the-back pass from Dawkins to Kelly for a slam followed by yet another Dawkins three pointer. Dawkins had 36 points on the night.
D1 Sports only trailed by three before Powell quickly scored five points to maintain the advantage. Plumlee contributed a putback dunk with 1:40 to go in the game, and Powell's jam with just over a minute remaining put the contest out of doubt. Team Jamison was the victor in an impressive 103-98 win.
While the Blue Devils shined in this game, former Wolfpack star Powell scored a team-high 31 points.
"It was a great experience being able to represent N.C. State," Powell joked after the game.
After winning his second straight NBA championship just over a month ago, Powell discussed the benefits of participating in the Greater NC Pro-Am.
"We're all just having fun, getting better and working on our games," Powell said.
Powell and Team Jamison are scheduled to face off with Kyrie Irving and Hendrick of Durham at 8 PM next Tuesday, as Team Jamison is set to square off with Team Stackhouse at 8 PM next Thursday.
The level of competition was high in the final game Thursday night as Andre Dawkins and D1 Sports tipped off against Seth Curry and Team Jamison.
Dawkins and Curry starting things off early, going back and forth and hitting constant three balls in a high scoring first period. Los Angeles Lakers forward Josh Powell joined Duke's Miles Plumlee to provide some scoring down low for Team Jamison. Their team trailed early, but a Powell lay-in followed by two successful free throws by Curry left Team Jamison trailing only by five at the end of the first period.
Powell continued to dominate down low, muscling in two points over Duke's Ryan Kelly and later banging his way to a bucket off the glass. D1 Sports got things done on the other end, as Dawkins was seemingly unstoppable from three point range. Brandon Smith rained in a trey of his own at the buzzer to stretch D1 Sports' lead to 58-51.
Team Jamison stormed back in the second half, as Curry dished multiple assists to Powell down low. Michko Ndiaye's three ball gave Team Jamison a one point lead, their first since the opening period.
D1 Sports was cold toward the end of the quarter, and Plumlee and Powell took advantage by extending their team's lead to eight points. Dawkins finally ended his team's drought with just under a minute to go, dropping in a deep three, but Team Jamison led 77-70 going into the final period.
Dawkins found his rhythm once again, single-handedly keeping his team in the game. Team Jamison led by nine, but D1 Sports came back after a behind-the-back pass from Dawkins to Kelly for a slam followed by yet another Dawkins three pointer. Dawkins had 36 points on the night.
D1 Sports only trailed by three before Powell quickly scored five points to maintain the advantage. Plumlee contributed a putback dunk with 1:40 to go in the game, and Powell's jam with just over a minute remaining put the contest out of doubt. Team Jamison was the victor in an impressive 103-98 win.
While the Blue Devils shined in this game, former Wolfpack star Powell scored a team-high 31 points.
"It was a great experience being able to represent N.C. State," Powell joked after the game.
After winning his second straight NBA championship just over a month ago, Powell discussed the benefits of participating in the Greater NC Pro-Am.
"We're all just having fun, getting better and working on our games," Powell said.
Powell and Team Jamison are scheduled to face off with Kyrie Irving and Hendrick of Durham at 8 PM next Tuesday, as Team Jamison is set to square off with Team Stackhouse at 8 PM next Thursday.
Team Stackhouse 48 Coaches in Christ 43
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Team Stackhouse was without their Tar Heel stars Thursday night in their match-up against Coaches in Christ. The game was highlighted by physical defense on both ends, which led to a low scoring contest.
Corey Watkins hit a jumper midway through the first quarter to gain a 7-0 lead for Team Stackhouse. Coaches in Christ did not find its first bucket until the 4:44 mark when Trent Bivens knocked down a deuce to end the drought. With 23 seconds remaining in the quarter, Bivens threw down a monstrous two-handed slam for a 10-9 lead, but Dominique Sutton responded on the other end with a lay-up at the buzzer to put Team Stackhouse up 11-10.
Coaches in Christ struggled even more from the field in the second quarter, scoring just 6 points in the period. Sutton's one-handed slam with four seconds remaining put his team up 27-16 at the half.
John Brown helped bring back Coaches in Christ in the second half with a pair of lay-ups to cut the deficit. E.J. Williams hit a deep perimeter shot for Team Stackhouse, but Marcus Gaines responded by hitting all of his free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt. Team Stackhouse led only by six going into the final quarter.
Team Stackhouse had plenty of opportunities to put the game away, but missed six straight free throws in the final minute. Adrian Woodard's tip-in for Coaches in Christ trimmed the margin to three, but with 16.5 seconds remaining, Williams finally hit a free throw. Team Stackhouse improved their record to 6-0, defeating Coaches in Christ, 48-43.
Although the game may not have been like the high scoring thriller that preceded it, Stackhouse was content with the way his team found a way to get the win.
"These guys want to get better," Stackhouse said. "Obviously they don't get a lot of chances to play with Reggie [Bullock] and Harrison [Barnes] and all those guys, but we got the chance to get them some minutes."
Stackhouse also noted that an undefeated record his team is working for an undefeated regular season.
"We want to go into the tournament with the number one seed. That's a goal of ours."
Team Stackhouse was without their Tar Heel stars Thursday night in their match-up against Coaches in Christ. The game was highlighted by physical defense on both ends, which led to a low scoring contest.
Corey Watkins hit a jumper midway through the first quarter to gain a 7-0 lead for Team Stackhouse. Coaches in Christ did not find its first bucket until the 4:44 mark when Trent Bivens knocked down a deuce to end the drought. With 23 seconds remaining in the quarter, Bivens threw down a monstrous two-handed slam for a 10-9 lead, but Dominique Sutton responded on the other end with a lay-up at the buzzer to put Team Stackhouse up 11-10.
Coaches in Christ struggled even more from the field in the second quarter, scoring just 6 points in the period. Sutton's one-handed slam with four seconds remaining put his team up 27-16 at the half.
John Brown helped bring back Coaches in Christ in the second half with a pair of lay-ups to cut the deficit. E.J. Williams hit a deep perimeter shot for Team Stackhouse, but Marcus Gaines responded by hitting all of his free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt. Team Stackhouse led only by six going into the final quarter.
Team Stackhouse had plenty of opportunities to put the game away, but missed six straight free throws in the final minute. Adrian Woodard's tip-in for Coaches in Christ trimmed the margin to three, but with 16.5 seconds remaining, Williams finally hit a free throw. Team Stackhouse improved their record to 6-0, defeating Coaches in Christ, 48-43.
Although the game may not have been like the high scoring thriller that preceded it, Stackhouse was content with the way his team found a way to get the win.
"These guys want to get better," Stackhouse said. "Obviously they don't get a lot of chances to play with Reggie [Bullock] and Harrison [Barnes] and all those guys, but we got the chance to get them some minutes."
Stackhouse also noted that an undefeated record his team is working for an undefeated regular season.
"We want to go into the tournament with the number one seed. That's a goal of ours."
Hendrick of Durham 110 Team McGladrey 96
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
The second match-up of the evening featured incoming Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Hendrick of Durham as they squared off against Rutgers' Tyree Graham and Team McGladrey.
Former Kentucky star John Wall was in attendance as Irving put on a show from the start. Irving had nine points in a high scoring first quarter. Johnny Thomas, who suited up for Team McGladrey, slammed in a windmill dunk to the delight of the fans, but his team trailed by eight after an Irving lay-up with five seconds left in the opening period.
Mikael Faulkner came off the bench for Team McGladrey to knock down a pair of threes at the beginning of the second quarter, but Hendrick of Durham was on a scoring spree with big baskets by Graham, Michael Deloach and Chris Hill. Their team led 58-47 at the break.
Thomas continued his impressive play, tossing the ball off the backboard to set himself up for a two-handed dunk. Graham kept the game within reach midway through the third quarter, hitting a trey for three of his 32 points, but Irving and Duke teammate Josh Hairston continued to dominate on the other end. Graham knocked down one of two free throws with 20.7 seconds remaining, but Hendrick of Durham was up by 12 at the end of the quarter.
Both teams kept the scoring going in the final period of play. Thomas grabbed two of his 26 points on a one-handed jam, and Faulkner hit another deep three that cut Hendrick of Durham's lead to just seven. Deloach and NCCU's Nick Chasten had answers, however. The two each threw down a dunk on the other end, and Hendrick of Durham came away with the victory, 110-96.
The second match-up of the evening featured incoming Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Hendrick of Durham as they squared off against Rutgers' Tyree Graham and Team McGladrey.
Former Kentucky star John Wall was in attendance as Irving put on a show from the start. Irving had nine points in a high scoring first quarter. Johnny Thomas, who suited up for Team McGladrey, slammed in a windmill dunk to the delight of the fans, but his team trailed by eight after an Irving lay-up with five seconds left in the opening period.
Mikael Faulkner came off the bench for Team McGladrey to knock down a pair of threes at the beginning of the second quarter, but Hendrick of Durham was on a scoring spree with big baskets by Graham, Michael Deloach and Chris Hill. Their team led 58-47 at the break.
Thomas continued his impressive play, tossing the ball off the backboard to set himself up for a two-handed dunk. Graham kept the game within reach midway through the third quarter, hitting a trey for three of his 32 points, but Irving and Duke teammate Josh Hairston continued to dominate on the other end. Graham knocked down one of two free throws with 20.7 seconds remaining, but Hendrick of Durham was up by 12 at the end of the quarter.
Both teams kept the scoring going in the final period of play. Thomas grabbed two of his 26 points on a one-handed jam, and Faulkner hit another deep three that cut Hendrick of Durham's lead to just seven. Deloach and NCCU's Nick Chasten had answers, however. The two each threw down a dunk on the other end, and Hendrick of Durham came away with the victory, 110-96.
Team Navy 68 Body of Christ 50
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
After suffering their first loss of the season on July 15, Body of Christ was unable to bounce back in their contest against Team Navy on Thursday night.
Team Navy leaped ahead early, with N.C. State's Kendall Smith and former ECU standout Derrick Wiley dropping in several buckets. A trey by Smith put his team up by 10, and Kansas State's Dominique Sutton put in a fast break lay-up in the final minute to take a 22-11 lead into the second quarter.
Corey Evans stretched Team Navy's lead to 14 in the second period after knocking down a three pointer, but Body of Christ's Jordan Carter hit a perimeter shot in response. Adarius Pegues helped cut the deficit, swishing in a turnaround jumper, but Marcus Wells' lay-in right before the buzzer extended the lead back to double digits as Team Navy took a 36-25 advantage into halftime.
Body of Christ's Johnny Thomas stepped up in the third quarter, knocking down a pair of three balls and also contributing a crowd-pleasing two-handed dunk. Thomas was having success from the field, but it was not enough to cancel out the play on the other end. Charles Ward's highlight jam over Pegues was one of many baskets that kept the lead in Team Navy's favor. After Smith was successful on the first of two free throw attempts with just 4.8 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the team was ahead 51-39 heading into the final intermission.
In the final period, Team Navy ran away with the game. After Wiley (21 points) completed an old-fashioned three point play and Ward nailed a pair of free throws for two of his 10 points, Team Navy led by 21. Body of Christ's John Brown provided some offense toward the end of the game, but his team was unable to overcome the difference. Team Navy was on the winning side of the 68-50 blowout.
After suffering their first loss of the season on July 15, Body of Christ was unable to bounce back in their contest against Team Navy on Thursday night.
Team Navy leaped ahead early, with N.C. State's Kendall Smith and former ECU standout Derrick Wiley dropping in several buckets. A trey by Smith put his team up by 10, and Kansas State's Dominique Sutton put in a fast break lay-up in the final minute to take a 22-11 lead into the second quarter.
Corey Evans stretched Team Navy's lead to 14 in the second period after knocking down a three pointer, but Body of Christ's Jordan Carter hit a perimeter shot in response. Adarius Pegues helped cut the deficit, swishing in a turnaround jumper, but Marcus Wells' lay-in right before the buzzer extended the lead back to double digits as Team Navy took a 36-25 advantage into halftime.
Body of Christ's Johnny Thomas stepped up in the third quarter, knocking down a pair of three balls and also contributing a crowd-pleasing two-handed dunk. Thomas was having success from the field, but it was not enough to cancel out the play on the other end. Charles Ward's highlight jam over Pegues was one of many baskets that kept the lead in Team Navy's favor. After Smith was successful on the first of two free throw attempts with just 4.8 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the team was ahead 51-39 heading into the final intermission.
In the final period, Team Navy ran away with the game. After Wiley (21 points) completed an old-fashioned three point play and Ward nailed a pair of free throws for two of his 10 points, Team Navy led by 21. Body of Christ's John Brown provided some offense toward the end of the game, but his team was unable to overcome the difference. Team Navy was on the winning side of the 68-50 blowout.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
NC Pro-Am Interviews: Seth Curry
By Anna LaRew - Player Correspondent
Above the Rim Exclusives: Interviews with your favorite SJG Pro-Am Players
July 15, 2010, Durham, NC – It’s week two of the NC Pro-Am in NC Central’s McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium. The mayhem has calmed down since the first two games. Last week, the closest parking spot was 1.5 miles way and if you didn’t arrive before 6:15 p.m, you weren’t getting in the gym and definitely not getting a seat. This Thursday I got a chance to sit down with rising basketball star Seth Curry.
NCPA: How many summers have you played at the Pro-Am? What is the competition like?
SC: This summer is my first time. It’s good competition. Everyone on the court knows how to play, people from other colleges NC State, UNC, and Central. You know, its good competition every night.
NCPA: Are you excited about the transfer from Liberty to Duke?
SC: It’s been a long wait. I’m ready to get there. I’m real excited.
NCPA: When you were young what player did you want to be and why?
SC: My favorite player was always Tracy McGrady. My dad played in the NBA so I always wanted to be like him.
NCPA: In regular season and summer what team do you most want to play against and why?
SC: Definitely Carolina, because that’s the rivalry. You know, it has been around forever. I can’t wait to actually experience that. Summer league, I like playing against my teammates at Duke. I’m on Team Jamison here. I get to go against them, talk some trash.
NCPA: How does basketball give you a chance to give back to the community?
SC: There are always eyes on you, especially at a school like Duke. You have eyes on you whether you do right or wrong. I’m held to a higher standard now, you know? I have to live up to that. Three or four times last year we went to a local elementary school. When we go there kids know who we are. You know, funny little kids. It's cool to get in there and show them how getting and education is important, because sports may not always be there.
Check back with NC Pro-Am later for more exclusives. Follow us on twitter @NCProAm and Seth @sdotcurry.
Above the Rim Exclusives: Interviews with your favorite SJG Pro-Am Players
July 15, 2010, Durham, NC – It’s week two of the NC Pro-Am in NC Central’s McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium. The mayhem has calmed down since the first two games. Last week, the closest parking spot was 1.5 miles way and if you didn’t arrive before 6:15 p.m, you weren’t getting in the gym and definitely not getting a seat. This Thursday I got a chance to sit down with rising basketball star Seth Curry.
NCPA: How many summers have you played at the Pro-Am? What is the competition like?
SC: This summer is my first time. It’s good competition. Everyone on the court knows how to play, people from other colleges NC State, UNC, and Central. You know, its good competition every night.
NCPA: Are you excited about the transfer from Liberty to Duke?
SC: It’s been a long wait. I’m ready to get there. I’m real excited.
NCPA: When you were young what player did you want to be and why?
SC: My favorite player was always Tracy McGrady. My dad played in the NBA so I always wanted to be like him.
NCPA: In regular season and summer what team do you most want to play against and why?
SC: Definitely Carolina, because that’s the rivalry. You know, it has been around forever. I can’t wait to actually experience that. Summer league, I like playing against my teammates at Duke. I’m on Team Jamison here. I get to go against them, talk some trash.
NCPA: How does basketball give you a chance to give back to the community?
SC: There are always eyes on you, especially at a school like Duke. You have eyes on you whether you do right or wrong. I’m held to a higher standard now, you know? I have to live up to that. Three or four times last year we went to a local elementary school. When we go there kids know who we are. You know, funny little kids. It's cool to get in there and show them how getting and education is important, because sports may not always be there.
Check back with NC Pro-Am later for more exclusives. Follow us on twitter @NCProAm and Seth @sdotcurry.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Greater NC Pro-Am Midseason Report
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
We're past halfway through the Greater NC Pro-Am regular season. After getting a chance to watch some local stars, here is the forecast for a few area teams:
Duke: Coming into the season, the Blue Devils are the clear cut favorite to win the ACC. But after catching a glimpse at all potential starters with the exception of Kyle Singler, we now have an idea of just how good this team can be. Very good. Excellent. For opposing teams, terrifying.
Kyrie Irving was a scoring machine in the two games he played this summer. He also is expected to fill the biggest hole in Duke's offense this season, taking over the point guard position that Jon Scheyer thrived at last season. Irving will bring an up-tempo game that will fit well with athletes such as Mason Plumlee and Seth Curry. Barring chemistry issues, he should have no problem making an instant impact for this team.
Nolan Smith only took part in one contest this summer, but it was impressive to say the least. What was more impressive than Smith's 36 points was the way he led his team to a win after erasing a 12 point deficit coming into the final quarter. He was possibly the most improved player in the conference last season, and the Devils will benefit enormously if he continues to get better.
Duke's biggest question is still the front court. Miles Plumlee has displayed excellent post play, but struggles when he is not playing with his back to the basket. Mason Plumlee is a monster athlete who will excel in transition, but it will be interesting to see how he plays against a proven big man such as Tracy Smith. If the Plumlees can step up with Ryan Kelly logging in valuable minutes off the bench, there is no doubt that the potential is there for a repeat.
North Carolina: Tar Heel fans have a lot to look forward to with the way Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock and John Henson have played so far this summer. The trio has led Team Stackhouse to a 5-0 record, and in one game, accounted for 73 of their team's 76 points. Coming into the ACC, Barnes and Bullock join a team that was last year plagued by injuries and chemistry issues. As freshmen, they have something to offer that the Heels so blatantly lacked last season - a consistent three point shot.
Bullock has shown off his three ball all summer, and it has been most evident in situations when his team needs it the most. He rained plenty of treys on his way to 30 points in Team Stackhouse's first contest against Team McGladrey (featuring N.C. State star recruits). He also demonstrated how his size gives him a tremendous advantage over opposing guards, as his large frame helps him muscle his way to the rack, and his height makes him nearly impossible to defend on the perimeter.
So far, Barnes has been successful in living up to the hype. As the nation's top recruit in the class of 2010, Barnes is a fundamentally sound player with no major flaws in his game. After the way he has played so far this summer (averaging 26.3 points in his last 3 contests), it would not be unreasonable to expect Barnes to be a leader of this North Carolina squad as a freshman. It's rare to see an incoming player as mature as Barnes, and it will be interesting to see how Roy Williams will use him this season.
Although the Tar Heels have a great deal to be excited about, there are still issues with depth in the paint. Henson has put on about 30 pounds since this time last year and is sure to be more involved this season, but Tyler Zeller and Justin Knox are the only other true post players on the team. Henson and Zeller are both talented and have gotten their share of minutes, but may struggle against more physical players such as Jeff Allen and Tracy Smith. The point guard position is also a spot receiving a lot of attention. Larry Drew II has spent the past month working out in California and Kendall Marshall has not participated in the Pro-Am, so it is debatable how concerned fans should be about that spot. All that said, North Carolina fans can expect a return to the dance in the 2010-2011 season.
N.C. State: Wolfpack fans are the most excited about basketball than they have been in years, and for good reason. C.J. Leslie is a freak athlete and fits in well with the games of fellow 2010 recruits Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown. Leslie, who is arguably the biggest N.C. State commitment since Julius Hodge, will have a significant effect on opening things up for his team's offense. The Pack can play big, putting Leslie at the 3, or they can put him at the four and allow Brown and Scott Wood to find open perimeter shots.
Tracy Smith has only made a couple appearances this summer, but has shown off a new element to his game. Smith has been playing more face-up basketball and has begun to develop a mid-range jumper. Fellow forward Richard Howell has also shown off some range, even knocking down a trey every once in awhile. While Jordan Vandenberg still must get better in order to be a competitive big man in the ACC, Smith and Howell have established themselves as real forces at the forward spots.
The Wolfpack will receive a boost in the back court with the addition of Harrow and Brown. Brown is likely to be an immediate starter at shooting guard, as he offers size, a consistent three point shot and even some ball-handling skills. Harrow is an outstanding player, but his size (5'11'', 155) leads to questions as to whether or not he is physically ready, and Sidney Lowe hinted a few weeks ago that there is likely to be a freshman learning curve. Although he was inconsistent at times, Javi Gonzalez was a key player for the Pack toward the end of last season and is a reliable option at point guard who could help smooth the transition for Harrow.
N.C. State still had questions, but will undoubtedly have a better team this season. Wood has struggled some this summer from three point range, but with the addition of Brown, he won't have to worry about taking over a game by himself. Leslie not only has the potential to be an instant scorer and rebounder, but also provides depth that Sidney Lowe can use to draw up numerous scenarios. The three freshmen have shown no trouble in finding ways to score this summer and are all likely to play major roles on this upcoming N.C. State team. It's not yet time to start talking conference championship, but an NCAA tournament appearance is an absolutely reasonable expectation.
NCCU: Senior C.J. Wilkerson has made plenty of noise this summer, and will likely be the leader of this Eagles basketball team. Wilkerson has shown off inside-out play, as well as the ability to find his way to the free throw line to capitalize. After averaging 16.3 points for NCCU this past season, local fans should be ready for a huge senior season for Wilkerson.
Landon Clement joins Wilkerson, as he will be eligible to participate this year for the Eagles. Clement is a sniper from the outside who is impossible to stop once he gets hot. After facing top competition, he has averaged 14.5 points per game this summer, and will definitely make himself recognized this season as a go-to three point shooter.
Junior forward Nick Chasten has also contributed solid play this summer. At 6'7'', he serves as a threat from deep, but also can make powerful drives to the basket. He may not be the scorer that Wilkerson is, but he, along with sophomore forward Dijon Manns, has proven this summer that he can run with ACC talent. After averaging 10 points per game last season, Chasten will have a greater opportunity to shine this year on an improved and experienced NCCU basketball team.
We're past halfway through the Greater NC Pro-Am regular season. After getting a chance to watch some local stars, here is the forecast for a few area teams:
Duke: Coming into the season, the Blue Devils are the clear cut favorite to win the ACC. But after catching a glimpse at all potential starters with the exception of Kyle Singler, we now have an idea of just how good this team can be. Very good. Excellent. For opposing teams, terrifying.
Kyrie Irving was a scoring machine in the two games he played this summer. He also is expected to fill the biggest hole in Duke's offense this season, taking over the point guard position that Jon Scheyer thrived at last season. Irving will bring an up-tempo game that will fit well with athletes such as Mason Plumlee and Seth Curry. Barring chemistry issues, he should have no problem making an instant impact for this team.
Nolan Smith only took part in one contest this summer, but it was impressive to say the least. What was more impressive than Smith's 36 points was the way he led his team to a win after erasing a 12 point deficit coming into the final quarter. He was possibly the most improved player in the conference last season, and the Devils will benefit enormously if he continues to get better.
Duke's biggest question is still the front court. Miles Plumlee has displayed excellent post play, but struggles when he is not playing with his back to the basket. Mason Plumlee is a monster athlete who will excel in transition, but it will be interesting to see how he plays against a proven big man such as Tracy Smith. If the Plumlees can step up with Ryan Kelly logging in valuable minutes off the bench, there is no doubt that the potential is there for a repeat.
North Carolina: Tar Heel fans have a lot to look forward to with the way Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock and John Henson have played so far this summer. The trio has led Team Stackhouse to a 5-0 record, and in one game, accounted for 73 of their team's 76 points. Coming into the ACC, Barnes and Bullock join a team that was last year plagued by injuries and chemistry issues. As freshmen, they have something to offer that the Heels so blatantly lacked last season - a consistent three point shot.
Bullock has shown off his three ball all summer, and it has been most evident in situations when his team needs it the most. He rained plenty of treys on his way to 30 points in Team Stackhouse's first contest against Team McGladrey (featuring N.C. State star recruits). He also demonstrated how his size gives him a tremendous advantage over opposing guards, as his large frame helps him muscle his way to the rack, and his height makes him nearly impossible to defend on the perimeter.
So far, Barnes has been successful in living up to the hype. As the nation's top recruit in the class of 2010, Barnes is a fundamentally sound player with no major flaws in his game. After the way he has played so far this summer (averaging 26.3 points in his last 3 contests), it would not be unreasonable to expect Barnes to be a leader of this North Carolina squad as a freshman. It's rare to see an incoming player as mature as Barnes, and it will be interesting to see how Roy Williams will use him this season.
Although the Tar Heels have a great deal to be excited about, there are still issues with depth in the paint. Henson has put on about 30 pounds since this time last year and is sure to be more involved this season, but Tyler Zeller and Justin Knox are the only other true post players on the team. Henson and Zeller are both talented and have gotten their share of minutes, but may struggle against more physical players such as Jeff Allen and Tracy Smith. The point guard position is also a spot receiving a lot of attention. Larry Drew II has spent the past month working out in California and Kendall Marshall has not participated in the Pro-Am, so it is debatable how concerned fans should be about that spot. All that said, North Carolina fans can expect a return to the dance in the 2010-2011 season.
N.C. State: Wolfpack fans are the most excited about basketball than they have been in years, and for good reason. C.J. Leslie is a freak athlete and fits in well with the games of fellow 2010 recruits Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown. Leslie, who is arguably the biggest N.C. State commitment since Julius Hodge, will have a significant effect on opening things up for his team's offense. The Pack can play big, putting Leslie at the 3, or they can put him at the four and allow Brown and Scott Wood to find open perimeter shots.
Tracy Smith has only made a couple appearances this summer, but has shown off a new element to his game. Smith has been playing more face-up basketball and has begun to develop a mid-range jumper. Fellow forward Richard Howell has also shown off some range, even knocking down a trey every once in awhile. While Jordan Vandenberg still must get better in order to be a competitive big man in the ACC, Smith and Howell have established themselves as real forces at the forward spots.
The Wolfpack will receive a boost in the back court with the addition of Harrow and Brown. Brown is likely to be an immediate starter at shooting guard, as he offers size, a consistent three point shot and even some ball-handling skills. Harrow is an outstanding player, but his size (5'11'', 155) leads to questions as to whether or not he is physically ready, and Sidney Lowe hinted a few weeks ago that there is likely to be a freshman learning curve. Although he was inconsistent at times, Javi Gonzalez was a key player for the Pack toward the end of last season and is a reliable option at point guard who could help smooth the transition for Harrow.
N.C. State still had questions, but will undoubtedly have a better team this season. Wood has struggled some this summer from three point range, but with the addition of Brown, he won't have to worry about taking over a game by himself. Leslie not only has the potential to be an instant scorer and rebounder, but also provides depth that Sidney Lowe can use to draw up numerous scenarios. The three freshmen have shown no trouble in finding ways to score this summer and are all likely to play major roles on this upcoming N.C. State team. It's not yet time to start talking conference championship, but an NCAA tournament appearance is an absolutely reasonable expectation.
NCCU: Senior C.J. Wilkerson has made plenty of noise this summer, and will likely be the leader of this Eagles basketball team. Wilkerson has shown off inside-out play, as well as the ability to find his way to the free throw line to capitalize. After averaging 16.3 points for NCCU this past season, local fans should be ready for a huge senior season for Wilkerson.
Landon Clement joins Wilkerson, as he will be eligible to participate this year for the Eagles. Clement is a sniper from the outside who is impossible to stop once he gets hot. After facing top competition, he has averaged 14.5 points per game this summer, and will definitely make himself recognized this season as a go-to three point shooter.
Junior forward Nick Chasten has also contributed solid play this summer. At 6'7'', he serves as a threat from deep, but also can make powerful drives to the basket. He may not be the scorer that Wilkerson is, but he, along with sophomore forward Dijon Manns, has proven this summer that he can run with ACC talent. After averaging 10 points per game last season, Chasten will have a greater opportunity to shine this year on an improved and experienced NCCU basketball team.
D1 Sports 82 Team Dreamworks 79
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Duke fans caught a glimpse of their team's future, near and distant, in the third match-up of the night, as Mason Plumlee and Team Dreamworks looked to improve their record to 3-1 by grabbing a win over Ryan Kelly and D1 Sports.
Kelly got to work early on, putting in a lay up and following it by blocking a Plumlee shot attempt on the other end. While Kelly seemed to be going off on the offensive end, Team Dreamworks balanced out their scoring with Plumlee, Jeffrey Hunter and Word of God guard Bishop Daniels all making contributions. D1 Sports still led by six at the half, after Kelly got a tip-in with nine seconds left and hustled down the floor to get a block as time expired.
Daniels and Plumlee led an early second half rally for their team, and a follow-up basket by Marshall Plumlee with just over six minutes to go in the third quarter tied the game at 41-41. After two powerful dunks by Mason and a made free throw by Daniels, Dreamworks had a seven point advantage.
Despite the run by their opposition, D1 Sports would not be denied. Kelly hit a deep jumper with just over a minute to go, and knocked down a three at the buzzer to carry his team into the final quarter with a 58-57 lead.
The final 10 minutes of the game were extremely competitive, as Kelly (28 points) continued to hit crucial shots for D1 Sports. His three pointer with 5:39 remaining gave the team their first lead of the quarter. Duke guard and D1 Sports teammate Andre Dawkins helped maintain the lead, scoring six quick points to stretch the deficit to 76-69. At one point, Dawkins skied over Mason for a rebound that later proved to be a key factor in the game.
Mason and Daniels chipped away at the lead, finding ways to score inside the three point line, but found themselves trailing by three with just six seconds left on the clock. After a timeout, Team Dreamworks inbounded the ball to Thornton, but his deep three ball at the buzzer was no good. D1 Sports came away with the win, 82-79.
Duke fans caught a glimpse of their team's future, near and distant, in the third match-up of the night, as Mason Plumlee and Team Dreamworks looked to improve their record to 3-1 by grabbing a win over Ryan Kelly and D1 Sports.
Kelly got to work early on, putting in a lay up and following it by blocking a Plumlee shot attempt on the other end. While Kelly seemed to be going off on the offensive end, Team Dreamworks balanced out their scoring with Plumlee, Jeffrey Hunter and Word of God guard Bishop Daniels all making contributions. D1 Sports still led by six at the half, after Kelly got a tip-in with nine seconds left and hustled down the floor to get a block as time expired.
Daniels and Plumlee led an early second half rally for their team, and a follow-up basket by Marshall Plumlee with just over six minutes to go in the third quarter tied the game at 41-41. After two powerful dunks by Mason and a made free throw by Daniels, Dreamworks had a seven point advantage.
Despite the run by their opposition, D1 Sports would not be denied. Kelly hit a deep jumper with just over a minute to go, and knocked down a three at the buzzer to carry his team into the final quarter with a 58-57 lead.
The final 10 minutes of the game were extremely competitive, as Kelly (28 points) continued to hit crucial shots for D1 Sports. His three pointer with 5:39 remaining gave the team their first lead of the quarter. Duke guard and D1 Sports teammate Andre Dawkins helped maintain the lead, scoring six quick points to stretch the deficit to 76-69. At one point, Dawkins skied over Mason for a rebound that later proved to be a key factor in the game.
Mason and Daniels chipped away at the lead, finding ways to score inside the three point line, but found themselves trailing by three with just six seconds left on the clock. After a timeout, Team Dreamworks inbounded the ball to Thornton, but his deep three ball at the buzzer was no good. D1 Sports came away with the win, 82-79.
Hendrick of Durham 87 Lucky Seven 82
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Los Angeles Lakers forward Josh Powell suited up for the second game Tuesday night, joining Courtney Fells and Lucky Seven in their game against Duke freshman phenom Kyrie Irving and Hendrick of Durham.
Former Norfolk State star Michael Deloach was the star of the first quarter, hitting multiple three pointers and setting his Hendrick of Durham teammates up for early buckets. Deloach had 13 points in the opening period as his team took the first quarter, 23-15.
Irving showcased his athleticism right away in the second half, scoring on an alley-oop lay-in while getting fouled. He would hit the free throw to convert the old-fashioned three point play, and dominated throughout the rest of the half, scoring 10 of his 32 points in the second quarter. Powell was a monster in the post, slamming in two points at the end of the half, but Irving's play led Hendrick of Durham to an eight point halftime lead.
Lucky Seven rallied in the third quarter with excellent perimeter play from Fells and Chris Lightner. A Lightner three ball in the final minutes of the period earned Lucky Seven its first lead since the beginning of the game, but a pair of Irving free throws and a two-handed jam by Chris Hill reclaimed the lead for Hendrick of Durham, 65-61.
The game was well within reach for Lucky Seven through the majority of the final period. A Fells lay-up tied the game at 76-76, but James Zimmerman shot right back with a three pointer for Hendrick of Durham with just over a minute to play. Irving was perfect from the free throw line in the closing seconds, and Hendrick of Durham escaped with the 87-82 win.
Irving's performance was the clear difference, as he noted after the game that he is always ready to put on a show against such tough competition.
"You never know who is watching," Irving said. "The person that sits at the end of the bench can come in and challenge you on the court."
After Tuesday night, it is safe to say that Irving is ready to take on just about any challenge at the Greater NC Pro-Am.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Josh Powell suited up for the second game Tuesday night, joining Courtney Fells and Lucky Seven in their game against Duke freshman phenom Kyrie Irving and Hendrick of Durham.
Former Norfolk State star Michael Deloach was the star of the first quarter, hitting multiple three pointers and setting his Hendrick of Durham teammates up for early buckets. Deloach had 13 points in the opening period as his team took the first quarter, 23-15.
Irving showcased his athleticism right away in the second half, scoring on an alley-oop lay-in while getting fouled. He would hit the free throw to convert the old-fashioned three point play, and dominated throughout the rest of the half, scoring 10 of his 32 points in the second quarter. Powell was a monster in the post, slamming in two points at the end of the half, but Irving's play led Hendrick of Durham to an eight point halftime lead.
Lucky Seven rallied in the third quarter with excellent perimeter play from Fells and Chris Lightner. A Lightner three ball in the final minutes of the period earned Lucky Seven its first lead since the beginning of the game, but a pair of Irving free throws and a two-handed jam by Chris Hill reclaimed the lead for Hendrick of Durham, 65-61.
The game was well within reach for Lucky Seven through the majority of the final period. A Fells lay-up tied the game at 76-76, but James Zimmerman shot right back with a three pointer for Hendrick of Durham with just over a minute to play. Irving was perfect from the free throw line in the closing seconds, and Hendrick of Durham escaped with the 87-82 win.
Irving's performance was the clear difference, as he noted after the game that he is always ready to put on a show against such tough competition.
"You never know who is watching," Irving said. "The person that sits at the end of the bench can come in and challenge you on the court."
After Tuesday night, it is safe to say that Irving is ready to take on just about any challenge at the Greater NC Pro-Am.
Team Navy 74 Team Jamison 54
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Tuesday night at the Greater NC Pro-Am started with a blowout as Team Navy rolled over Team Jamison in the first contest of the evening.
Team Jamison came out firing right away, building a 9-0 lead as Michko Ndiaye and Duke's Seth Curry hit three perimeter shots right away. Kansas State's Dominique Sutton put the run to an end, sparking some emotion into Team Navy with a baseline dunk. A pair of Charles Ward free throws tied the game 9-9, and the team continued to succeed from the field, taking a 21-16 lead into the second quarter.
Curry struggled throughout the remainder of the first half, and Team Navy took advantage. N.C. State's Kendall Smith extended the lead to 10, dropping in a lay-up with 25 seconds to go, and Sutton's pull-up jumper at the buzzer gave his team a 12 point advantage entering halftime.
The intermission did not slow down Team Navy. Ward made the most of second chance opportunities, crashing the offensive boards for rebounds and getting put-back buckets. He also got his teammates involved, finding Derrick Wiley for a lay-up later in the period. Curry continued to have trouble from long range and did not score in the second half until the 4:08 mark when he knocked down a couple free throws. Mikael Faulkner came off the bench for Team Navy to score a quick six points, pushing his team to a 59-41 lead at the end of the quarter.
Team Navy continued their dominance for the rest of the game. Marcus Wells and Faulkner landed in a pair of deep treys early on, and their team held on for a convincing victory, 77-54.
Tuesday night at the Greater NC Pro-Am started with a blowout as Team Navy rolled over Team Jamison in the first contest of the evening.
Team Jamison came out firing right away, building a 9-0 lead as Michko Ndiaye and Duke's Seth Curry hit three perimeter shots right away. Kansas State's Dominique Sutton put the run to an end, sparking some emotion into Team Navy with a baseline dunk. A pair of Charles Ward free throws tied the game 9-9, and the team continued to succeed from the field, taking a 21-16 lead into the second quarter.
Curry struggled throughout the remainder of the first half, and Team Navy took advantage. N.C. State's Kendall Smith extended the lead to 10, dropping in a lay-up with 25 seconds to go, and Sutton's pull-up jumper at the buzzer gave his team a 12 point advantage entering halftime.
The intermission did not slow down Team Navy. Ward made the most of second chance opportunities, crashing the offensive boards for rebounds and getting put-back buckets. He also got his teammates involved, finding Derrick Wiley for a lay-up later in the period. Curry continued to have trouble from long range and did not score in the second half until the 4:08 mark when he knocked down a couple free throws. Mikael Faulkner came off the bench for Team Navy to score a quick six points, pushing his team to a 59-41 lead at the end of the quarter.
Team Navy continued their dominance for the rest of the game. Marcus Wells and Faulkner landed in a pair of deep treys early on, and their team held on for a convincing victory, 77-54.
State-Carolina Preview: What We Learned Part II
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
The rematch between Team Stackhouse and Team McGladrey may not have been as high scoring as the first match-up, but it was just as competitive. After a second glance at these two teams, here are a few more things we can take away as we look forward to ACC play in the winter:
-North Carolina will only go as far as Harrison Barnes and Reggie Bullock will take them. That's not to say that those are the only two talented players on their basketball team, but their scoring ability fills what was a gaping hole on last year's squad. What happens when Barnes and Bullock don't produce offensively? Well, look no further than the score at the end of the first quarter in their game against Team McGladrey.
-C.J. Leslie will show off eye-opening dunks, but Pack fans will close their eyes when he goes to the free throw line. Leslie has tremendous athleticism, and Ryan Harrow is the perfect fit at point guard to bring all of that out. That said, it would not sit well with N.C. State fans if Leslie's struggles at the line were the difference in a real game against North Carolina. As improved as both of these teams will be come January, it is definitely possible that free throws could be all that separate the two rivals.
-N.C. State will not experience a repeat of the '07-'08 season. It sounds like an obvious statement, but with incoming talent such as J.J. Hickson and a young Tracy Smith, many ACC fans saw the Wolfpack as a top 5 team in the conference three seasons ago. The team eventually imploded as they were plagued throughout the entire season by chemistry issues and selfish play that flushed them to the bottom of the ACC. That will not happen with this group. These freshmen excel in ball movement and scoring distribution, as all of their focus is on getting the win. They may not have accomplished their goal tonight, but have taken a step in the right direction.
The rematch between Team Stackhouse and Team McGladrey may not have been as high scoring as the first match-up, but it was just as competitive. After a second glance at these two teams, here are a few more things we can take away as we look forward to ACC play in the winter:
-North Carolina will only go as far as Harrison Barnes and Reggie Bullock will take them. That's not to say that those are the only two talented players on their basketball team, but their scoring ability fills what was a gaping hole on last year's squad. What happens when Barnes and Bullock don't produce offensively? Well, look no further than the score at the end of the first quarter in their game against Team McGladrey.
-C.J. Leslie will show off eye-opening dunks, but Pack fans will close their eyes when he goes to the free throw line. Leslie has tremendous athleticism, and Ryan Harrow is the perfect fit at point guard to bring all of that out. That said, it would not sit well with N.C. State fans if Leslie's struggles at the line were the difference in a real game against North Carolina. As improved as both of these teams will be come January, it is definitely possible that free throws could be all that separate the two rivals.
-N.C. State will not experience a repeat of the '07-'08 season. It sounds like an obvious statement, but with incoming talent such as J.J. Hickson and a young Tracy Smith, many ACC fans saw the Wolfpack as a top 5 team in the conference three seasons ago. The team eventually imploded as they were plagued throughout the entire season by chemistry issues and selfish play that flushed them to the bottom of the ACC. That will not happen with this group. These freshmen excel in ball movement and scoring distribution, as all of their focus is on getting the win. They may not have accomplished their goal tonight, but have taken a step in the right direction.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Team Stackhouse 59 Team McGladrey 51
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
The atmosphere was electric for the final game Tuesday night at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium, as Harrison Barnes and Team Stackhouse tipped off in a rematch against C.J. Leslie and Team McGladrey.
Team McGladrey came out storming in the opening minutes, as incoming N.C. State freshman point guard Ryan Harrow's feisty play on both ends led the team to an 11-0 start. Barnes responded by ending the run, throwing down a tomahawk dunk with authority, but C.J. Leslie had answers of his own on the other end, scoring six quick points. After Harrow knocked down two free throws with 12.7 seconds remaining in the first period, Barnes missed a fade-away jumper at the buzzer, ending the quarter with a score of 23-10.
The game appeared to be getting out of hand at the start of the second quarter as Team McGladrey took an 18 point lead following N.C. State's Lorenzo Brown's turnaround jumper and a Leslie three point play. Team Stackhouse was not ready to go down, though.
"We just fought back," Team Stackhouse forward John Henson said. "That's what we do."
A deep trey by future Tar Heel P.J. Hairston was just the start of what would become a key run for Team Stackhouse. E.J. Williams and North Carolina shooting guard Reggie Bullock joined in on the action with three balls of their own. After a Hairston lay-up in transition, Williams hit two free throws with a minute remaining to cut the deficit to one. The fans in light blue erupted as Barnes threw down a two-hand jam to earn Stackhouse its first lead of the game. Harrow's jumper at the buzzer fell short, and his team trailed at halftime, 34-33.
Aggressive defense seemed to be the theme of a low scoring third quarter. Leslie found his way to the charity stripe three times in the period, but was only successful on two of his six attempts. Brown put a couple points on the board toward the end of the quarter with a leaping slam, but Team Stackhouse still held a three point advantage entering the final ten minutes of play.
Leslie's struggles from the line continued. He missed his first two free throws of the fourth quarter, and ultimately hit just six of 14 attempts on the night. Henson's shot blocking also did not help matters for Team McGladrey, as he swatted away two lay-up attempts by future Wolfpacker Joseph Uchebo.
Henson's defensive presence in the post proved to be crucial down the stretch, but Barnes and Bullock were the game changers on the offense.
"They just take it to the basket and score at will," Henson said of the freshmen.
After Leslie (16 points) finally found his touch at the free throw line, knocking down two shots for the first lead change of the half, Barnes immediately responded with a three pointer. Barnes extended the lead shortly after, hitting a pair of free ones for the final two of his game-high 18 points. Harrow, who led his team with 17 points, fought back by kissing a floater off the glass, but it was not enough. A Henson dunk with just over a minute to play served as the dagger. Team Stackhouse was the victor in the grudge match, winning by a score of 59-51 to boost its record to 5-0.
The atmosphere was electric for the final game Tuesday night at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium, as Harrison Barnes and Team Stackhouse tipped off in a rematch against C.J. Leslie and Team McGladrey.
Team McGladrey came out storming in the opening minutes, as incoming N.C. State freshman point guard Ryan Harrow's feisty play on both ends led the team to an 11-0 start. Barnes responded by ending the run, throwing down a tomahawk dunk with authority, but C.J. Leslie had answers of his own on the other end, scoring six quick points. After Harrow knocked down two free throws with 12.7 seconds remaining in the first period, Barnes missed a fade-away jumper at the buzzer, ending the quarter with a score of 23-10.
The game appeared to be getting out of hand at the start of the second quarter as Team McGladrey took an 18 point lead following N.C. State's Lorenzo Brown's turnaround jumper and a Leslie three point play. Team Stackhouse was not ready to go down, though.
"We just fought back," Team Stackhouse forward John Henson said. "That's what we do."
A deep trey by future Tar Heel P.J. Hairston was just the start of what would become a key run for Team Stackhouse. E.J. Williams and North Carolina shooting guard Reggie Bullock joined in on the action with three balls of their own. After a Hairston lay-up in transition, Williams hit two free throws with a minute remaining to cut the deficit to one. The fans in light blue erupted as Barnes threw down a two-hand jam to earn Stackhouse its first lead of the game. Harrow's jumper at the buzzer fell short, and his team trailed at halftime, 34-33.
Aggressive defense seemed to be the theme of a low scoring third quarter. Leslie found his way to the charity stripe three times in the period, but was only successful on two of his six attempts. Brown put a couple points on the board toward the end of the quarter with a leaping slam, but Team Stackhouse still held a three point advantage entering the final ten minutes of play.
Leslie's struggles from the line continued. He missed his first two free throws of the fourth quarter, and ultimately hit just six of 14 attempts on the night. Henson's shot blocking also did not help matters for Team McGladrey, as he swatted away two lay-up attempts by future Wolfpacker Joseph Uchebo.
Henson's defensive presence in the post proved to be crucial down the stretch, but Barnes and Bullock were the game changers on the offense.
"They just take it to the basket and score at will," Henson said of the freshmen.
After Leslie (16 points) finally found his touch at the free throw line, knocking down two shots for the first lead change of the half, Barnes immediately responded with a three pointer. Barnes extended the lead shortly after, hitting a pair of free ones for the final two of his game-high 18 points. Harrow, who led his team with 17 points, fought back by kissing a floater off the glass, but it was not enough. A Henson dunk with just over a minute to play served as the dagger. Team Stackhouse was the victor in the grudge match, winning by a score of 59-51 to boost its record to 5-0.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Team 212 defeats Team Dreamworks, 67-54
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Team 212 came into McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium Thursday night searching for their first victory of the season in a face-off with Team Dreamworks.
Long range scoring was prevalent in the opening period as N.C. State's Scott Wood and NCCU's Landon Clement teamed up to sink multiple three pointers for Team 212. Former NCCU forward Charles Futrell knocked down a pair of free throws for Team Dreamworks, but his team fell behind by eight after the first quarter.
David Williams attempted to bring some life into Team Dreamworks in the following quarter, throwing down a two-handed slam with authority, but Team 212 continued to increase the lead. N.C. State center Jordan Vandenberg made some noise with a monstrous dunk for Team 212, stretching the lead to 16. David Jordan helped maintain the lead with a baseline jumper at the end of the half, extending the deficit to 34-18 heading into intermission.
Word of God guard Bishop Daniels showed off outstanding elevation with a one-handed dunk in traffic to help keep Team Dreamworks in the game, but NCCU incoming freshman Emmanuel Chapman answered on the other end by getting to the charity stripe and hitting two free throws. A lay-up in the final minute by Team Dreamworks' Aloysius Henry only cut the difference to 13 at the end of the third quarter.
Team 212 was still hungry for their first win in the final quarter, as Wood hit another shot from deep for three of his 11 points. Wood displayed his passing ability just moments later, finding Futrell for an alley-oop. Mikael Faulkner hit a pair of late three pointers to add on to the thrashing and Clement hit another deep one for three of his game-high 19 points as Team 212 rolled over Team Dreamworks by a score of 67-54.
Team 212 came into McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium Thursday night searching for their first victory of the season in a face-off with Team Dreamworks.
Long range scoring was prevalent in the opening period as N.C. State's Scott Wood and NCCU's Landon Clement teamed up to sink multiple three pointers for Team 212. Former NCCU forward Charles Futrell knocked down a pair of free throws for Team Dreamworks, but his team fell behind by eight after the first quarter.
David Williams attempted to bring some life into Team Dreamworks in the following quarter, throwing down a two-handed slam with authority, but Team 212 continued to increase the lead. N.C. State center Jordan Vandenberg made some noise with a monstrous dunk for Team 212, stretching the lead to 16. David Jordan helped maintain the lead with a baseline jumper at the end of the half, extending the deficit to 34-18 heading into intermission.
Word of God guard Bishop Daniels showed off outstanding elevation with a one-handed dunk in traffic to help keep Team Dreamworks in the game, but NCCU incoming freshman Emmanuel Chapman answered on the other end by getting to the charity stripe and hitting two free throws. A lay-up in the final minute by Team Dreamworks' Aloysius Henry only cut the difference to 13 at the end of the third quarter.
Team 212 was still hungry for their first win in the final quarter, as Wood hit another shot from deep for three of his 11 points. Wood displayed his passing ability just moments later, finding Futrell for an alley-oop. Mikael Faulkner hit a pair of late three pointers to add on to the thrashing and Clement hit another deep one for three of his game-high 19 points as Team 212 rolled over Team Dreamworks by a score of 67-54.
Team McGladrey 75 Team Jamison 62
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
The biggest game of the night came at the 8 PM tip off, as N.C. State's freshman trio and Team McGladrey looked to get their second win of the season as they squared off against Duke's Miles Plumlee and Team Jamison.
Duke guard Seth Curry started the game with a deep three, but Lorenzo Brown had an answer on the other end with a trey in response. Brown missed on his next attempt behind the arc, but his N.C. State and Team McGladrey teammate C.J. Leslie soared in with a two-handed slam to follow. Team McGladrey's Ryan Harrow got in on the action with a steal and a breakaway jam. The crowd erupted as Team McGladrey stretched the early deficit to nine points. Former N.C. A&T star J.J. Miller knocked down a deep two at the buzzer for Team Jamison, but his team was behind 20-13 going into the second quarter.
Despite trailing early, Team Jamison stormed back in the second period. Chris Hill's lay-up followed a Miller three pointer to cut the deficit to four, and a jumper by Plumlee with 49 seconds remaining tied the game at 34-34. With 26 seconds to go in the half, J.B. Wilson threw down a dunk off a Plumlee miss for the final bucket of the half, as Team Jamison took its first lead of the game, 36-34.
After a shaky second quarter, Team McGladrey refused to go down. Just minutes into the quarter, Brown found future Wolfpack big man Joseph Uchebo on a no-look pass for a two-handed slam to re-take the lead. Harrow drained a deep shot for three of his 18 points off an inbounds pass to continue the scoring for Team McGladrey. While his opposition was hitting some thrilling buckets, J.J. Miller put on a show of his own, penetrating into the lane and getting two points on a scooping basket. Team Jamison held on to a one point advantage heading into the final quarter.
Down the stretch, Team McGladrey's guards were too tough to defend. While Harrow was the primary dribbler for the squad, Brown showed off handles of his own, crossing up defenders and driving into the paint for lay-ups. Harrow slammed in a breakaway dunk early in the period as his team took the one point advantage. Team Jamison was killed in transition throughout the quarter, as Brown got the rebound and putback jam off of Leslie's failed between-the-legs dunk attempt. Leslie's powerful slam at the buzzer made for two of his 26 points as Team McGladrey claimed the 75-62 victory.
The biggest game of the night came at the 8 PM tip off, as N.C. State's freshman trio and Team McGladrey looked to get their second win of the season as they squared off against Duke's Miles Plumlee and Team Jamison.
Duke guard Seth Curry started the game with a deep three, but Lorenzo Brown had an answer on the other end with a trey in response. Brown missed on his next attempt behind the arc, but his N.C. State and Team McGladrey teammate C.J. Leslie soared in with a two-handed slam to follow. Team McGladrey's Ryan Harrow got in on the action with a steal and a breakaway jam. The crowd erupted as Team McGladrey stretched the early deficit to nine points. Former N.C. A&T star J.J. Miller knocked down a deep two at the buzzer for Team Jamison, but his team was behind 20-13 going into the second quarter.
Despite trailing early, Team Jamison stormed back in the second period. Chris Hill's lay-up followed a Miller three pointer to cut the deficit to four, and a jumper by Plumlee with 49 seconds remaining tied the game at 34-34. With 26 seconds to go in the half, J.B. Wilson threw down a dunk off a Plumlee miss for the final bucket of the half, as Team Jamison took its first lead of the game, 36-34.
After a shaky second quarter, Team McGladrey refused to go down. Just minutes into the quarter, Brown found future Wolfpack big man Joseph Uchebo on a no-look pass for a two-handed slam to re-take the lead. Harrow drained a deep shot for three of his 18 points off an inbounds pass to continue the scoring for Team McGladrey. While his opposition was hitting some thrilling buckets, J.J. Miller put on a show of his own, penetrating into the lane and getting two points on a scooping basket. Team Jamison held on to a one point advantage heading into the final quarter.
Down the stretch, Team McGladrey's guards were too tough to defend. While Harrow was the primary dribbler for the squad, Brown showed off handles of his own, crossing up defenders and driving into the paint for lay-ups. Harrow slammed in a breakaway dunk early in the period as his team took the one point advantage. Team Jamison was killed in transition throughout the quarter, as Brown got the rebound and putback jam off of Leslie's failed between-the-legs dunk attempt. Leslie's powerful slam at the buzzer made for two of his 26 points as Team McGladrey claimed the 75-62 victory.
Team Stackhouse 59 Body of Christ 45
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Team Stackhouse clashed with Body of Christ in the second match-up of the evening, as both teams sought to defend their undefeated records.
Team Stackhouse Chris Lightner got the crowd roaring immediately with a highlight slam to begin the game. Former Texas Longhorn and Enloe High School star P.J. Tucker knocked down a pair of free throws and his teammate Madison Jones dropped in a lay up as their team took a quick 6-0 lead.
Rhode Island star Akeem Richmond followed a Johnny Thomas miss for Body of Christ's first score of the game, but Team Stackhouse continued to rack up points of its own. Tucker continued to take advantage of second chance buckets as Team Stackhouse took a 16-10 lead into the second period of play.
Team Stackhouse came out storming in the second quarter, getting inside baskets right away. Tucker continued to put on a show, increasing the advantage to 25-10 on a reverse lay-up and rejecting Thomas' shot attempt just seconds later. Body of Christ's Adarius Pegues hit a jumper from the baseline for two of his team's 10 points, but his team trailed by 31-16 at the half after a dunk by Tucker with 6.8 seconds left.
Freshman phenoms Harrison Barnes and Reggie Bullock showed up at halftime along with North Carolina teammates John Henson and Justin Watts. Watts suited up for Team Stackhouse as his fellow Tar Heels gave their support from the stands. Watts gave his team a boost coming off the bench, spinning into the lane and putting in a lay-up and stretching the deficit to 16.
In the fourth quarter, Watts picked up where he left off, earning second chance points, scoring on a fast break lay-in and showing off his jumper as he swished in a mid-range shot. Watts had 10 points on the night.
Body of Christ fell victim of a major scoring drought, unable to hit a shot in the first five minutes. Thomas got a hot hand toward the end of the game, however. The Body of Christ forward hit four trey balls in the final five minutes for 12 of his 21 points, but it was not enough for a comeback, as Team Stackhouse came away with the win in convincing fashion, 59-45.
Team Stackhouse clashed with Body of Christ in the second match-up of the evening, as both teams sought to defend their undefeated records.
Team Stackhouse Chris Lightner got the crowd roaring immediately with a highlight slam to begin the game. Former Texas Longhorn and Enloe High School star P.J. Tucker knocked down a pair of free throws and his teammate Madison Jones dropped in a lay up as their team took a quick 6-0 lead.
Rhode Island star Akeem Richmond followed a Johnny Thomas miss for Body of Christ's first score of the game, but Team Stackhouse continued to rack up points of its own. Tucker continued to take advantage of second chance buckets as Team Stackhouse took a 16-10 lead into the second period of play.
Team Stackhouse came out storming in the second quarter, getting inside baskets right away. Tucker continued to put on a show, increasing the advantage to 25-10 on a reverse lay-up and rejecting Thomas' shot attempt just seconds later. Body of Christ's Adarius Pegues hit a jumper from the baseline for two of his team's 10 points, but his team trailed by 31-16 at the half after a dunk by Tucker with 6.8 seconds left.
Freshman phenoms Harrison Barnes and Reggie Bullock showed up at halftime along with North Carolina teammates John Henson and Justin Watts. Watts suited up for Team Stackhouse as his fellow Tar Heels gave their support from the stands. Watts gave his team a boost coming off the bench, spinning into the lane and putting in a lay-up and stretching the deficit to 16.
In the fourth quarter, Watts picked up where he left off, earning second chance points, scoring on a fast break lay-in and showing off his jumper as he swished in a mid-range shot. Watts had 10 points on the night.
Body of Christ fell victim of a major scoring drought, unable to hit a shot in the first five minutes. Thomas got a hot hand toward the end of the game, however. The Body of Christ forward hit four trey balls in the final five minutes for 12 of his 21 points, but it was not enough for a comeback, as Team Stackhouse came away with the win in convincing fashion, 59-45.
Team Navy 73 Lucky Seven 65
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Former N.C. State star Courtney Fells and Lucky Seven started off strong Thursday night, dropping many early buckets on Derrick Wiley and Team Navy. It was the first game for Lucky Seven since their blowout win over Coaches in Christ on July 8.
Lucky Seven's Jeremy Wise, who played college hoops at Southern Miss, led his team early in the contest knocking down a three that extended a first quarter lead. South Florida guard Justin Leemow joined Wise in the early scoring spree, hitting a trey of his own and dishing out an assist to Charlie Manning to give Lucky Seven a 25-14 lead after the first period.
Team Navy came clawing back immediately in the second quarter as Corey Evans rose up to the challenge and pushed for a comeback. Evans' three pointer just minutes into the the second quarter tied the game at 29-29. Former N.C. State forward Damon Thornton, making his first appearance of the summer at the Greater N.C. Pro-Am, ended Team Navy's run with a lay-in to reclaim the lead, but Evans continued to dominate on the other end. Team Navy's Kendall Smith was successful on his second of two free throws with 2:23 remaining in the quarter as his squad took a 40-39 advantage into halftime.
Thornton's two-handed slam to begin the second half was a sign of things to come, as jaw-dropping dunks were thrown down on both sides of the court throughout the third period. It appeared Team Navy was about to run away with the game after a two-handed jam by Wiley (game-high 18 points), but Thornton's old-fashioned three point play and Leemow's perimeter shooting kept Lucky Seven well within reach. Team Navy's Dominique Sutton showed tremendous elevation with a powerful dunk to end the third period, as his team held on to a 58-55 lead.
Leemow turned up the heat in the final quarter, immediately hitting a shot behind the arc for three of his 13 points, and finding his way to the free throw line just seconds later after being fouled on a three point attempt. Sutton displayed impressive offensive ability, getting physical as he muscled his way to the rack and helped maintain the lead for Team Navy. Lucky Seven's Tavares Alston found his way to the line after being fouled on a shot from three point land with 26.8 seconds remaining, but only cut the deficit to four after hitting just one of three free throws. Sutton pulled down the rebound and hit a pair of free throws on the other end to seal the deal, leading his team to a 73-65 victory.
Former N.C. State star Courtney Fells and Lucky Seven started off strong Thursday night, dropping many early buckets on Derrick Wiley and Team Navy. It was the first game for Lucky Seven since their blowout win over Coaches in Christ on July 8.
Lucky Seven's Jeremy Wise, who played college hoops at Southern Miss, led his team early in the contest knocking down a three that extended a first quarter lead. South Florida guard Justin Leemow joined Wise in the early scoring spree, hitting a trey of his own and dishing out an assist to Charlie Manning to give Lucky Seven a 25-14 lead after the first period.
Team Navy came clawing back immediately in the second quarter as Corey Evans rose up to the challenge and pushed for a comeback. Evans' three pointer just minutes into the the second quarter tied the game at 29-29. Former N.C. State forward Damon Thornton, making his first appearance of the summer at the Greater N.C. Pro-Am, ended Team Navy's run with a lay-in to reclaim the lead, but Evans continued to dominate on the other end. Team Navy's Kendall Smith was successful on his second of two free throws with 2:23 remaining in the quarter as his squad took a 40-39 advantage into halftime.
Thornton's two-handed slam to begin the second half was a sign of things to come, as jaw-dropping dunks were thrown down on both sides of the court throughout the third period. It appeared Team Navy was about to run away with the game after a two-handed jam by Wiley (game-high 18 points), but Thornton's old-fashioned three point play and Leemow's perimeter shooting kept Lucky Seven well within reach. Team Navy's Dominique Sutton showed tremendous elevation with a powerful dunk to end the third period, as his team held on to a 58-55 lead.
Leemow turned up the heat in the final quarter, immediately hitting a shot behind the arc for three of his 13 points, and finding his way to the free throw line just seconds later after being fouled on a three point attempt. Sutton displayed impressive offensive ability, getting physical as he muscled his way to the rack and helped maintain the lead for Team Navy. Lucky Seven's Tavares Alston found his way to the line after being fouled on a shot from three point land with 26.8 seconds remaining, but only cut the deficit to four after hitting just one of three free throws. Sutton pulled down the rebound and hit a pair of free throws on the other end to seal the deal, leading his team to a 73-65 victory.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Body of Christ 65 Coaches in Christ 55
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Fans from all around the triangle traveled to McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium on Tuesday night to catch a glimpse at the likes of John Henson and Tracy Smith. Those who stuck around for the final game of the evening were fortunate enough to see yet another outstanding performance by Johnny Thomas.
Thomas, a wing forward who is transferring from N.C. State to Marshall, scored 31 points and 24 points in his first two outings, respectively. His success on the court continued as he led Body of Christ against Roderick Brown and Coaches in Christ.
Body of Christ took an early lead as Thomas scored the first points of the game on a three pointer, and Adarius Pegues swatted away a pair of shots on the other end. Detwon Rodgers contributed to the first quarter scoring, following on a Thomas miss to increase Body of Christ's lead to 12-6. Despite the early run, Brown took matters into his own hands for Coaches in Christ, scoring on multiple dunks. Brown's teammate, Terrence Sutton, put in a two point bucket with eight seconds to go to give Coaches in Christ a 16-14 lead at the end of the period.
In a low scoring second quarter, Body of Christ had trouble getting shots to fall. Brown got to the free throw line for Coaches in Christ, but was unable to put in the buckets that could have pulled his team away. He eventually hit the second of two free throws with 39.9 seconds left in the half, and his team took a 28-23 lead into halftime.
Brown opened things up in the third quarter with a breakaway dunk for two of his 15 points, but Thomas hit a free throw to convert a three point play and followed it with a three pointer just seconds later. Thomas eventually got a put-back basket on a Scott Grable miss to tie the game at 33-33. With just over three minutes to go in the third period, Stephen Woodson hit a three to give Body of Christ their first lead of the half. It appeared that Body of Christ would hold on to the lead until Elliot Williams hit a three at the buzzer to give Coaches in Christ a 48-47 advantage.
As in past games this summer, the fourth quarter was Thomas' time to be the star. Just a few minutes into the final quarter, Thomas dropped in three quick baskets, which made for six of his 24 points, to give his team a 57-50 lead. T.J. Holman's three point play for Coaches in Christ would bring the game within four, but it was not enough. Body of Christ's Michael McKey and Akeem Richmond hit their free throws down the stretched, sealing the win for their team, 65-55.
Fans from all around the triangle traveled to McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium on Tuesday night to catch a glimpse at the likes of John Henson and Tracy Smith. Those who stuck around for the final game of the evening were fortunate enough to see yet another outstanding performance by Johnny Thomas.
Thomas, a wing forward who is transferring from N.C. State to Marshall, scored 31 points and 24 points in his first two outings, respectively. His success on the court continued as he led Body of Christ against Roderick Brown and Coaches in Christ.
Body of Christ took an early lead as Thomas scored the first points of the game on a three pointer, and Adarius Pegues swatted away a pair of shots on the other end. Detwon Rodgers contributed to the first quarter scoring, following on a Thomas miss to increase Body of Christ's lead to 12-6. Despite the early run, Brown took matters into his own hands for Coaches in Christ, scoring on multiple dunks. Brown's teammate, Terrence Sutton, put in a two point bucket with eight seconds to go to give Coaches in Christ a 16-14 lead at the end of the period.
In a low scoring second quarter, Body of Christ had trouble getting shots to fall. Brown got to the free throw line for Coaches in Christ, but was unable to put in the buckets that could have pulled his team away. He eventually hit the second of two free throws with 39.9 seconds left in the half, and his team took a 28-23 lead into halftime.
Brown opened things up in the third quarter with a breakaway dunk for two of his 15 points, but Thomas hit a free throw to convert a three point play and followed it with a three pointer just seconds later. Thomas eventually got a put-back basket on a Scott Grable miss to tie the game at 33-33. With just over three minutes to go in the third period, Stephen Woodson hit a three to give Body of Christ their first lead of the half. It appeared that Body of Christ would hold on to the lead until Elliot Williams hit a three at the buzzer to give Coaches in Christ a 48-47 advantage.
As in past games this summer, the fourth quarter was Thomas' time to be the star. Just a few minutes into the final quarter, Thomas dropped in three quick baskets, which made for six of his 24 points, to give his team a 57-50 lead. T.J. Holman's three point play for Coaches in Christ would bring the game within four, but it was not enough. Body of Christ's Michael McKey and Akeem Richmond hit their free throws down the stretched, sealing the win for their team, 65-55.
Team Jamison defeats Team 212, 73-59
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
After losing in an overtime heart-breaker on Thursday night, Team Jamison looked to defeat C.J. Wilkerson and Team 212 to get back on the right track.
Wilkerson came out with an impressive first quarter, scoring his first points on an old-fashioned three point play and following it with four successful free throw attempts. Team Jamison scored several buckets on their own at the other end, including a two-handed slam by Duke's Miles Plumlee. Seth Curry, Plumlee's teammate from Duke, did not appear to be phased by his struggles from three point range on Thursday night, as he hit a deep perimeter shot with 14 seconds left in the quarter. Team Jamison held on to a 17-9 lead as they entered the first intermission.
In the second quarter, Plumlee picked up right where he left off, dominating in the post and putting in an early jam. Wilkerson continued to find his way to the free throw line, hitting all six of his free throws in the second period. N.C. State's Scott Wood hit a three for Team 212 with 50 seconds to go to cut Team Jamison's lead, but his team still trailed by four at the half.
Curry took over the game in the second half, as he immediately went off on a scoring rampage. He showed his versatility on both ends, knocking down three pointers, driving to the basket, hitting the mid-range jumper and even rejecting a Landon Clement shot out of bounds. Plumlee followed on a rare Curry miss to extend Team Jamison's lead even further. By the end of the quarter, they held a 50-35 advantage.
Plumlee and Curry proceeded to build onto their lead in the fourth quarter, but Team 212's Charles Futrell stepped up to provide some scoring for his team. Despite Curry's 22 point effort, Futrell slammed down a reverse dunk at the end of the quarter for two of his 20 points. Team Jamison still rolled away with a 73-59 win.
After losing in an overtime heart-breaker on Thursday night, Team Jamison looked to defeat C.J. Wilkerson and Team 212 to get back on the right track.
Wilkerson came out with an impressive first quarter, scoring his first points on an old-fashioned three point play and following it with four successful free throw attempts. Team Jamison scored several buckets on their own at the other end, including a two-handed slam by Duke's Miles Plumlee. Seth Curry, Plumlee's teammate from Duke, did not appear to be phased by his struggles from three point range on Thursday night, as he hit a deep perimeter shot with 14 seconds left in the quarter. Team Jamison held on to a 17-9 lead as they entered the first intermission.
In the second quarter, Plumlee picked up right where he left off, dominating in the post and putting in an early jam. Wilkerson continued to find his way to the free throw line, hitting all six of his free throws in the second period. N.C. State's Scott Wood hit a three for Team 212 with 50 seconds to go to cut Team Jamison's lead, but his team still trailed by four at the half.
Curry took over the game in the second half, as he immediately went off on a scoring rampage. He showed his versatility on both ends, knocking down three pointers, driving to the basket, hitting the mid-range jumper and even rejecting a Landon Clement shot out of bounds. Plumlee followed on a rare Curry miss to extend Team Jamison's lead even further. By the end of the quarter, they held a 50-35 advantage.
Plumlee and Curry proceeded to build onto their lead in the fourth quarter, but Team 212's Charles Futrell stepped up to provide some scoring for his team. Despite Curry's 22 point effort, Futrell slammed down a reverse dunk at the end of the quarter for two of his 20 points. Team Jamison still rolled away with a 73-59 win.
Team Navy 66 Hendrick of Durham 62
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Kyrie Irving made his Greater NC Pro-Am debut with Hendrick of Durham as he faced Charles Ward and Team Navy. Irving, the incoming freshman point guard at Duke, received a lot of hype coming out of high school, and his play early on against Team Navy made it clear that he would not disappoint on Tuesday night.
The first quarter featured excellent finishing on both ends, with Irving and Team Navy's Derrick Wiley both hitting shots while getting fouled. No three pointers were made in the opening period, but players found other ways to rack up points and excite the crowd. Team Navy's Charles Ward slammed in a halfcourt alley-oop in the final minute, and his team took an 18-17 lead into the second quarter.
Team Navy got off to a quick start in the following period. N.C. State's Kendall Smith knocked down a pair of free throws, and just seconds later scored on a lay-up after rebounding a free throw missed by Wiley. Irving answered with the first trey of the game, scoring three of his 14 first half points.
While Irving's play was nothing short of phenomenal, the rest of Hendrick of Durham was struggling. Team Navy took advantage as Corey Evans threw down a two-handed slam. Ward added to the lead with a windmill jam, and later extended his team's lead to 11 after tossing the ball off the glass and slamming it down with authority in what may have been the highlight of the game. Hendrick of Durham's Michael Deloach eventually slowed down Team Navy's run by knocking down two free throws, but his team trailed 38-29 at halftime.
Despite the halftime deficit, the third quarter was all Hendrick of Durham needed to get back in the game. Irving continued to get points from the charity stripe, and his teammates began to feed off his effort. Deloach tied the game at 43-43, and Irving hit two more free throws to give his team its first lead of the half. Team Navy's Dominique Sutton got a lay-in at the buzzer, tying the game at 45-45 entering the final period of play.
Wiley scored a quick five points to give his team the early lead. After a Sutton dunk with 5:42 remaining, Team Navy appeared to be running away with the game as they held a 56-47 lead. Irving and NCCU sophomore Nick Chasten kept their team in the game with immediate scoring. Chasten knocked down a shot from three point land with under a minute to go to cut the lead to two, and Hendrick of Durham got the ball back after a Navy turnover with 17.9 seconds to go. After melting some time off the clock, Deloach drove to the basket, but was unable to hit the tough lay-up. Team Navy escaped with the victory, 66-62.
Kyrie Irving made his Greater NC Pro-Am debut with Hendrick of Durham as he faced Charles Ward and Team Navy. Irving, the incoming freshman point guard at Duke, received a lot of hype coming out of high school, and his play early on against Team Navy made it clear that he would not disappoint on Tuesday night.
The first quarter featured excellent finishing on both ends, with Irving and Team Navy's Derrick Wiley both hitting shots while getting fouled. No three pointers were made in the opening period, but players found other ways to rack up points and excite the crowd. Team Navy's Charles Ward slammed in a halfcourt alley-oop in the final minute, and his team took an 18-17 lead into the second quarter.
Team Navy got off to a quick start in the following period. N.C. State's Kendall Smith knocked down a pair of free throws, and just seconds later scored on a lay-up after rebounding a free throw missed by Wiley. Irving answered with the first trey of the game, scoring three of his 14 first half points.
While Irving's play was nothing short of phenomenal, the rest of Hendrick of Durham was struggling. Team Navy took advantage as Corey Evans threw down a two-handed slam. Ward added to the lead with a windmill jam, and later extended his team's lead to 11 after tossing the ball off the glass and slamming it down with authority in what may have been the highlight of the game. Hendrick of Durham's Michael Deloach eventually slowed down Team Navy's run by knocking down two free throws, but his team trailed 38-29 at halftime.
Despite the halftime deficit, the third quarter was all Hendrick of Durham needed to get back in the game. Irving continued to get points from the charity stripe, and his teammates began to feed off his effort. Deloach tied the game at 43-43, and Irving hit two more free throws to give his team its first lead of the half. Team Navy's Dominique Sutton got a lay-in at the buzzer, tying the game at 45-45 entering the final period of play.
Wiley scored a quick five points to give his team the early lead. After a Sutton dunk with 5:42 remaining, Team Navy appeared to be running away with the game as they held a 56-47 lead. Irving and NCCU sophomore Nick Chasten kept their team in the game with immediate scoring. Chasten knocked down a shot from three point land with under a minute to go to cut the lead to two, and Hendrick of Durham got the ball back after a Navy turnover with 17.9 seconds to go. After melting some time off the clock, Deloach drove to the basket, but was unable to hit the tough lay-up. Team Navy escaped with the victory, 66-62.
State-Carolina Preview: What We Learned
Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Although the match-up between Team Stackhouse and Team McGladrey was different in many ways from a true North Carolina-N.C. State game, many things can be taken from this game. Here are a few conclusions that can be made after Tuesday night's game:
-Harrison Barnes vs. C.J. Leslie will be one of the top storylines in the rivalry this season. This battle features two of the top 10 recruits in the 2010 class, and each of the two is expected to have an immediate impact on their program. Barnes offers a fundamentally sound game as one of the most mature recruits to ever come into North Carolina, while Leslie's length and athleticism fuels his ability to become a human highlight reel. The potential is there for both to be lottery draft picks as soon as next year, and fans will compare the two throughout this season.
-Reggie Bullock's size will ultimately make him one of the toughest guards to defend in the conference. At 6'7'', he is much taller than a normal shooting guard. He also uses his 185-pound frame to bully defenders who cannot match his size. Whether he is using his height to prevent his perimeter shots from being blocked, or using his body to muscle his way inside, Bullock will give opposing teams a headache when the ball is in his hands.
-Lorenzo Brown will start immediately at N.C. State. Although Leslie and Ryan Harrow may be ranked higher on recruiting boards, Brown offers a skill-set that fills a huge hole in N.C. State's line-up. While the incoming recruiting class adds some much-needed talent and depth, giving coach Sidney Lowe the opportunity to take advantage of many starting line-up scenarios, there is no way to leave Brown off the list. His three ball is deadly, his ball-handling is impressive and his ability to find the open shot makes him the scorer that the Pack has been looking for.
Although the match-up between Team Stackhouse and Team McGladrey was different in many ways from a true North Carolina-N.C. State game, many things can be taken from this game. Here are a few conclusions that can be made after Tuesday night's game:
-Harrison Barnes vs. C.J. Leslie will be one of the top storylines in the rivalry this season. This battle features two of the top 10 recruits in the 2010 class, and each of the two is expected to have an immediate impact on their program. Barnes offers a fundamentally sound game as one of the most mature recruits to ever come into North Carolina, while Leslie's length and athleticism fuels his ability to become a human highlight reel. The potential is there for both to be lottery draft picks as soon as next year, and fans will compare the two throughout this season.
-Reggie Bullock's size will ultimately make him one of the toughest guards to defend in the conference. At 6'7'', he is much taller than a normal shooting guard. He also uses his 185-pound frame to bully defenders who cannot match his size. Whether he is using his height to prevent his perimeter shots from being blocked, or using his body to muscle his way inside, Bullock will give opposing teams a headache when the ball is in his hands.
-Lorenzo Brown will start immediately at N.C. State. Although Leslie and Ryan Harrow may be ranked higher on recruiting boards, Brown offers a skill-set that fills a huge hole in N.C. State's line-up. While the incoming recruiting class adds some much-needed talent and depth, giving coach Sidney Lowe the opportunity to take advantage of many starting line-up scenarios, there is no way to leave Brown off the list. His three ball is deadly, his ball-handling is impressive and his ability to find the open shot makes him the scorer that the Pack has been looking for.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Team Stackhouse 82, Team McGladrey 72
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium was filled to capacity by 7 PM Tuesday night - over an hour before tip off of the most anticipated game so far this summer. The Greater NC Pro-Am had a State-Carolina ring to it as North Carolina's Harrison Barnes and Team Stackhouse squared off with N.C. State's C.J. Leslie and Team McGladrey.
Team Stackhouse's roster consisted of five Tar Heels, four of which are current players and one who is a recruit of the 2011 class. Team McGladrey boasted five current Wolfpack players, including the highly touted incoming freshman trio of Leslie, Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown. Class of 2012 commitment Joseph Uchebo joined his future Raleigh teammates in the action.
Ironically, former Texas star P.J. Tucker scored the first basket of the game with a lay-up in the opening minute. Brown quickly responded with a put-back dunk on the other end. It was immediately clear that neither team was going to start out hesitant.
As the first quarter progressed, fans for each team erupted as highlight plays occurred on both ends. Leslie made a leaping effort to reject Barnes on a drive, previewing a match-up that will gain national attention in the winter. Harrow showed off his range with an early three pointer, as Team McGladrey got off to a quick start.
Team Stackhouse was not to be put away early, however. Forward John Henson made a statement right away, following a Barnes miss with a thundering two-hand slam. Junior guard Justin Watts contributed with a baseline jumper, and Bullock added scoring of his own just minutes later, using his size advantage on Brown to muscle his way to the basket for two points. Barnes increased the lead to five with a tomahawk slam that brought the crowd to its feet, but Team McGladrey's C.J. Williams ended the run with a trey ball from the top of the key. At the end of the quarter, Team Stackhouse held the advantage, 18-16.
The first four points of the second quarter came from Team McGladrey, as star forward Tracy Smith powered his way to two points in the post and Leslie followed just seconds later with a steal and a strong two-handed jam. Their lead was short-lived, as Team Stackhouse got perimeter baskets from Barnes, Bullock and E.J. Williams. Bullock missed a three point attempt at the buzzer, but Team Stackhouse still went into halftime with a 41-32 lead.
Fans remained on the edge of their seats in the second half as both teams continued to fight for a win. At the beginning in the half, Team McGladrey got excellent post play from Smith and Leslie. Brown added a long-range bucket for three of his 15 points to compliment the play from down low and trim the margin. With 1:45 remaining in the third quarter, Leslie threw down a reverse slam for two of his 21 points to cut the lead to three.
Just as it appeared that Team McGladrey held all the momentum, Team Stackhouse's P.J. Hairston killed the run by converting an old-fashioned three point play. Barnes and Bullock added a couple buckets of their own, and took a 61-51 advantage into the final period.
Team Stackhouse tried to pull away early in the fourth quarter, as Bullock and Barnes both knocked down three pointers immediately. Brown answered with two deep threes for Team McGladrey, and an alley-oop from Harrow to Smith cut the deficit to 75-67 with two minutes remaining. The eight point difference was too much to overcome, as Team Stackhouse hit their free throws down the stretch and pulled off their third win of the season, 82-72.
While the game was not a true match-up between the two tobacco road rivals, Watts claimed that it was an important contest.
"It's a good chance to play with my teammates and get that chemistry we're going to need for this year," Watts said after the game. "It's also fun and it allows people to come out that can't afford to come to the games to watch us and get a sight at what we look like."
Watts also gave a lot of credit to Barnes (25 points) and Bullock (30 points), as he looks forward to playing with the two in the upcoming season.
"Those guys are great to play with. They're great teammates. Playing with people like that makes them better and makes you better."
If Tuesday night's game was any indication, Tar Heel fans can look forward to their team as a whole getting better.
McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium was filled to capacity by 7 PM Tuesday night - over an hour before tip off of the most anticipated game so far this summer. The Greater NC Pro-Am had a State-Carolina ring to it as North Carolina's Harrison Barnes and Team Stackhouse squared off with N.C. State's C.J. Leslie and Team McGladrey.
Team Stackhouse's roster consisted of five Tar Heels, four of which are current players and one who is a recruit of the 2011 class. Team McGladrey boasted five current Wolfpack players, including the highly touted incoming freshman trio of Leslie, Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown. Class of 2012 commitment Joseph Uchebo joined his future Raleigh teammates in the action.
Ironically, former Texas star P.J. Tucker scored the first basket of the game with a lay-up in the opening minute. Brown quickly responded with a put-back dunk on the other end. It was immediately clear that neither team was going to start out hesitant.
As the first quarter progressed, fans for each team erupted as highlight plays occurred on both ends. Leslie made a leaping effort to reject Barnes on a drive, previewing a match-up that will gain national attention in the winter. Harrow showed off his range with an early three pointer, as Team McGladrey got off to a quick start.
Team Stackhouse was not to be put away early, however. Forward John Henson made a statement right away, following a Barnes miss with a thundering two-hand slam. Junior guard Justin Watts contributed with a baseline jumper, and Bullock added scoring of his own just minutes later, using his size advantage on Brown to muscle his way to the basket for two points. Barnes increased the lead to five with a tomahawk slam that brought the crowd to its feet, but Team McGladrey's C.J. Williams ended the run with a trey ball from the top of the key. At the end of the quarter, Team Stackhouse held the advantage, 18-16.
The first four points of the second quarter came from Team McGladrey, as star forward Tracy Smith powered his way to two points in the post and Leslie followed just seconds later with a steal and a strong two-handed jam. Their lead was short-lived, as Team Stackhouse got perimeter baskets from Barnes, Bullock and E.J. Williams. Bullock missed a three point attempt at the buzzer, but Team Stackhouse still went into halftime with a 41-32 lead.
Fans remained on the edge of their seats in the second half as both teams continued to fight for a win. At the beginning in the half, Team McGladrey got excellent post play from Smith and Leslie. Brown added a long-range bucket for three of his 15 points to compliment the play from down low and trim the margin. With 1:45 remaining in the third quarter, Leslie threw down a reverse slam for two of his 21 points to cut the lead to three.
Just as it appeared that Team McGladrey held all the momentum, Team Stackhouse's P.J. Hairston killed the run by converting an old-fashioned three point play. Barnes and Bullock added a couple buckets of their own, and took a 61-51 advantage into the final period.
Team Stackhouse tried to pull away early in the fourth quarter, as Bullock and Barnes both knocked down three pointers immediately. Brown answered with two deep threes for Team McGladrey, and an alley-oop from Harrow to Smith cut the deficit to 75-67 with two minutes remaining. The eight point difference was too much to overcome, as Team Stackhouse hit their free throws down the stretch and pulled off their third win of the season, 82-72.
While the game was not a true match-up between the two tobacco road rivals, Watts claimed that it was an important contest.
"It's a good chance to play with my teammates and get that chemistry we're going to need for this year," Watts said after the game. "It's also fun and it allows people to come out that can't afford to come to the games to watch us and get a sight at what we look like."
Watts also gave a lot of credit to Barnes (25 points) and Bullock (30 points), as he looks forward to playing with the two in the upcoming season.
"Those guys are great to play with. They're great teammates. Playing with people like that makes them better and makes you better."
If Tuesday night's game was any indication, Tar Heel fans can look forward to their team as a whole getting better.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Team Dreamworks 81 Team Navy 78
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Duke guard Nolan Smith and Team Dreamworks went head-to-head with Team Navy for the final contest of the evening. Both teams came into the game searching for the first win of the season.
UNC-Greensboro forward Elhanan Bone got things started early for Team Dreamworks, putting in some tough buckets in the paint. Smith helped lighten the load for his teammate by hitting a three pointer and a deep two early on. Corey Evans and former ECU Pirate Derrick Wiley stepped up for Team Navy on the other end, leading their team to a 15-13 lead after the first quarter.
Duke's Mason Plumlee showed off his range, knocking down a trey for Team Dreamworks to begin the second period. Smith added baskets of his own, as he continued his scoring binge by hitting all six of his free throws and adding a couple three pointers. Fans recognized a familiar sight late in the half as Smith found Plumlee for an alley-oop slam.
Smith and Plumlee were putting on a show for Team Dreamworks, but Team Navy had answers on the other end. Wiley knocked down a perimeter shot early on, and added an assist shortly after as he set up Anthony Greenup for a three pointer. Charles Ward showed tremendous athleticism, elevating for a two-handed dunk despite being fouled by Plumlee. His successful free throw attempt completed the three point play.
The second quarter produced several highlights and came to a fitting ending when Nolan Smith hit a halfcourt shot to end the half. At the break, Team Navy held a 37-34 lead.
Team Navy came out hard in the second half, making a run fueled by five Anthony Greenup slams. Toward the end of the third quarter, Marcus Wells dropped in a lay-up to extend the lead to 61-47, the largest margin of the game.
Team Dreamworks trailed by 12 after the third quarter, but ended the period with some momentum after Smith found Plumlee for a reverse alley-oop. Shortly after the final quarter of regulation began, Smith took over by nailing two shots from three point land to cut the lead to six. Wiley responded with a deep three for Team Navy, but Smith continued to hit free throws and find open shots.
With 2:57 remaining in the game, Smith hit a step-back three ball to tie the game at 72-72. Plumlee scored three straight baskets, two of which were monster alley-oop jams assisted by Smith. The fans were ecstatic as Team Dreamworks began to run away with the lead.
"Even though it's just a pick-up game, we want to win, so we just had to start competing," Smith said.
A high level of competition could be seen on both sides, as Wiley responded to Team Dreamworks' run with a three pointer. After Bone hit the second of two free throws to extend Team Dreamworks' lead to four, Wiley was fouled on a three point attempt by David Williams. The lead was cut to one after Wiley swished all three free throws.
Team Navy's late push was not enough, however. With 5.9 seconds remaining, Smith hit two shots from the charity stripe. Team Navy's last possession did not produce a bucket, and Team Dreamworks escaped with the 81-78 win.
"When it comes down to winning, that's what I'm used to doing, so I just had to get that second wind and try and do whatever it takes to win," Smith said.
Smith's 36 point effort was the performance of the night, not to mention numerous assists to Plumlee, who had 22 points. Smith implied that Duke fans have a lot to look forward to this season.
"Miles and Mason [Plumlee] both can catch alley-oops, and me and Kyrie [Irving] are going to pass them," Smith said with a grin.
Team Dreamworks' next match-up will be against Team 212 on July 15, and Team Navy will face Hendrick of Durham in their next contest on July 13.
Duke guard Nolan Smith and Team Dreamworks went head-to-head with Team Navy for the final contest of the evening. Both teams came into the game searching for the first win of the season.
UNC-Greensboro forward Elhanan Bone got things started early for Team Dreamworks, putting in some tough buckets in the paint. Smith helped lighten the load for his teammate by hitting a three pointer and a deep two early on. Corey Evans and former ECU Pirate Derrick Wiley stepped up for Team Navy on the other end, leading their team to a 15-13 lead after the first quarter.
Duke's Mason Plumlee showed off his range, knocking down a trey for Team Dreamworks to begin the second period. Smith added baskets of his own, as he continued his scoring binge by hitting all six of his free throws and adding a couple three pointers. Fans recognized a familiar sight late in the half as Smith found Plumlee for an alley-oop slam.
Smith and Plumlee were putting on a show for Team Dreamworks, but Team Navy had answers on the other end. Wiley knocked down a perimeter shot early on, and added an assist shortly after as he set up Anthony Greenup for a three pointer. Charles Ward showed tremendous athleticism, elevating for a two-handed dunk despite being fouled by Plumlee. His successful free throw attempt completed the three point play.
The second quarter produced several highlights and came to a fitting ending when Nolan Smith hit a halfcourt shot to end the half. At the break, Team Navy held a 37-34 lead.
Team Navy came out hard in the second half, making a run fueled by five Anthony Greenup slams. Toward the end of the third quarter, Marcus Wells dropped in a lay-up to extend the lead to 61-47, the largest margin of the game.
Team Dreamworks trailed by 12 after the third quarter, but ended the period with some momentum after Smith found Plumlee for a reverse alley-oop. Shortly after the final quarter of regulation began, Smith took over by nailing two shots from three point land to cut the lead to six. Wiley responded with a deep three for Team Navy, but Smith continued to hit free throws and find open shots.
With 2:57 remaining in the game, Smith hit a step-back three ball to tie the game at 72-72. Plumlee scored three straight baskets, two of which were monster alley-oop jams assisted by Smith. The fans were ecstatic as Team Dreamworks began to run away with the lead.
"Even though it's just a pick-up game, we want to win, so we just had to start competing," Smith said.
A high level of competition could be seen on both sides, as Wiley responded to Team Dreamworks' run with a three pointer. After Bone hit the second of two free throws to extend Team Dreamworks' lead to four, Wiley was fouled on a three point attempt by David Williams. The lead was cut to one after Wiley swished all three free throws.
Team Navy's late push was not enough, however. With 5.9 seconds remaining, Smith hit two shots from the charity stripe. Team Navy's last possession did not produce a bucket, and Team Dreamworks escaped with the 81-78 win.
"When it comes down to winning, that's what I'm used to doing, so I just had to get that second wind and try and do whatever it takes to win," Smith said.
Smith's 36 point effort was the performance of the night, not to mention numerous assists to Plumlee, who had 22 points. Smith implied that Duke fans have a lot to look forward to this season.
"Miles and Mason [Plumlee] both can catch alley-oops, and me and Kyrie [Irving] are going to pass them," Smith said with a grin.
Team Dreamworks' next match-up will be against Team 212 on July 15, and Team Navy will face Hendrick of Durham in their next contest on July 13.
Lucky Seven 67 Coaches in Christ 49
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Courtney Fells and Lucky Seven came into their game against Coaches in Christ looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Team McGladrey on Tuesday night. Lucky Seven stepped into McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium Thursday night looking to avoid another late-game run by the opposition.
L.A. Lakers forward Josh Powell watched from Lucky Seven's bench as Fells put on a show early, throwing down a one-handed slam and completing an old-fashioned three point play. Fells and St. Augustine's star Hayward Fain teamed up to lead Lucky Seven to a 16-9 lead after the first quarter.
Coaches in Christ's Roddrick Brown banged around down low, getting a couple of hard earned buckets to cut Lucky Seven's lead to 18-17, but Fells and Justin Leemow propelled their team to an 8-0 run. Word of God's Bishop Daniels put in a lay-up in response to a Fells finger roll to end the run, and Billy McDade hit a trey to keep Coaches in Christ in the game. Lucky Seven went into halftime with a 30-26 advantage.
In the second half, Lucky Seven picked up where they left off as Fells and Fain continued to thrill the crowd with three pointers and highlight dunks. The two stretched their team's lead to 16 after a Fain rejection led to a Fells jam in transition. McDade hit a late shot from three point land, but it would not be enough to hand Lucky Seven their second consecutive loss. Fells had 20 points and Fain scored 12 as Lucky Seven came a way with a convincing victory, 67-49.
Courtney Fells and Lucky Seven came into their game against Coaches in Christ looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Team McGladrey on Tuesday night. Lucky Seven stepped into McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium Thursday night looking to avoid another late-game run by the opposition.
L.A. Lakers forward Josh Powell watched from Lucky Seven's bench as Fells put on a show early, throwing down a one-handed slam and completing an old-fashioned three point play. Fells and St. Augustine's star Hayward Fain teamed up to lead Lucky Seven to a 16-9 lead after the first quarter.
Coaches in Christ's Roddrick Brown banged around down low, getting a couple of hard earned buckets to cut Lucky Seven's lead to 18-17, but Fells and Justin Leemow propelled their team to an 8-0 run. Word of God's Bishop Daniels put in a lay-up in response to a Fells finger roll to end the run, and Billy McDade hit a trey to keep Coaches in Christ in the game. Lucky Seven went into halftime with a 30-26 advantage.
In the second half, Lucky Seven picked up where they left off as Fells and Fain continued to thrill the crowd with three pointers and highlight dunks. The two stretched their team's lead to 16 after a Fain rejection led to a Fells jam in transition. McDade hit a late shot from three point land, but it would not be enough to hand Lucky Seven their second consecutive loss. Fells had 20 points and Fain scored 12 as Lucky Seven came a way with a convincing victory, 67-49.
Body of Christ 70 Team Jamison 67 (OT)
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Former N.C. A&T star J.J. Miller and Team Jamison were already familiar with overtime at the Greater NC Pro-Am as they came into their match-up against former N.C. State wing Johnny Thomas and Body of Christ. Team Jamison defeated Coaches in Christ in an overtime thriller in their season opener as Miller displayed extraordinary scoring ability.
The first quarter was highlighted by Duke forward and Team Jamison's Miles Plumlee, as he made things happen in the post. Plumlee dominated the paint early with a pair of two-handed slams and a few impressive rejections. Miller also got to work early, scoring 5 of his 28 points in the first period as Team Jamison took a 19-14 lead into the second quarter.
Thomas made a statement early in the second quarter, hitting a deep pull-up jumper while being tightly guarded by Plumlee. Body of Christ's Scott Grable came off the bench to contribute physical play in the paint, hitting a free throw to convert a three point play that tied the game at 25-25. Body of Christ continued their run, scoring five more points to take the halftime lead.
Miller took over for Team Jamison in the second half as Plumlee and Duke teammate Seth Curry struggled on the offensive end. As Body of Christ began to stretch their lead, Miller kept his team in the game by converting two straight old-fashioned three point plays. At the start of the fourth quarter, Miller hit a free throw to finish another three point play, which cut Body of Christ's lead to 46-42.
While Miller was seemingly unstoppable in the second half, Johnny Thomas defended Body of Christ's lead with excellent offensive play. After Miller's deadly shooting cut the deficit to two, Thomas hit two shots from three point land and a two pointer off the glass to extend his team's lead to 61-53.
"When [Miller] hit the three, I knew I was coming down and shooting a three right back at them," Thomas said.
As Body of Christ appeared to be putting the game out of doubt, Team Jamison remained focused. After Plumlee hit two free throws and a lay-up, Curry got a steal and an easy lay-in of his own to cut the lead to 61-59 with 1:01 remaining. Rhode Island sophomore Akeem Richmond hit the second of two free throws to give Body of Christ a three point lead, but Miller erased that deficit by knocking down all of his free throws after being fouled on a three point shot.
Body of Christ made a late push in regulation, hitting a floater with four seconds to go. The basket was disallowed, however. Offensive goaltending negated the basket and sent the game into overtime.
Thomas got started right away in overtime, hitting a three ball as he continued his perimeter shooting clinic. He followed his basket with a lay-up, but Miller nailed two free throws with 29.6 seconds left to tie the game, 67-67.
Timeout, Body of Christ. The ball was inbounded to Thomas as he set up to take the final shot. After dribbling some time off the clock, Thomas took a hard step to fake the drive, and pulled up from the top of the key. The ball swished through the net as time expired and the crowd erupted in cheers.
"In the first half, I didn't hit as many shots as I wanted to and I just kept my head in the game and came out strong in the second half," Thomas said.
Fortunately for Body of Christ, Thomas' strong play in the second half led the team to their second straight victory, as they won by a final score of 70-67.
Former N.C. A&T star J.J. Miller and Team Jamison were already familiar with overtime at the Greater NC Pro-Am as they came into their match-up against former N.C. State wing Johnny Thomas and Body of Christ. Team Jamison defeated Coaches in Christ in an overtime thriller in their season opener as Miller displayed extraordinary scoring ability.
The first quarter was highlighted by Duke forward and Team Jamison's Miles Plumlee, as he made things happen in the post. Plumlee dominated the paint early with a pair of two-handed slams and a few impressive rejections. Miller also got to work early, scoring 5 of his 28 points in the first period as Team Jamison took a 19-14 lead into the second quarter.
Thomas made a statement early in the second quarter, hitting a deep pull-up jumper while being tightly guarded by Plumlee. Body of Christ's Scott Grable came off the bench to contribute physical play in the paint, hitting a free throw to convert a three point play that tied the game at 25-25. Body of Christ continued their run, scoring five more points to take the halftime lead.
Miller took over for Team Jamison in the second half as Plumlee and Duke teammate Seth Curry struggled on the offensive end. As Body of Christ began to stretch their lead, Miller kept his team in the game by converting two straight old-fashioned three point plays. At the start of the fourth quarter, Miller hit a free throw to finish another three point play, which cut Body of Christ's lead to 46-42.
While Miller was seemingly unstoppable in the second half, Johnny Thomas defended Body of Christ's lead with excellent offensive play. After Miller's deadly shooting cut the deficit to two, Thomas hit two shots from three point land and a two pointer off the glass to extend his team's lead to 61-53.
"When [Miller] hit the three, I knew I was coming down and shooting a three right back at them," Thomas said.
As Body of Christ appeared to be putting the game out of doubt, Team Jamison remained focused. After Plumlee hit two free throws and a lay-up, Curry got a steal and an easy lay-in of his own to cut the lead to 61-59 with 1:01 remaining. Rhode Island sophomore Akeem Richmond hit the second of two free throws to give Body of Christ a three point lead, but Miller erased that deficit by knocking down all of his free throws after being fouled on a three point shot.
Body of Christ made a late push in regulation, hitting a floater with four seconds to go. The basket was disallowed, however. Offensive goaltending negated the basket and sent the game into overtime.
Thomas got started right away in overtime, hitting a three ball as he continued his perimeter shooting clinic. He followed his basket with a lay-up, but Miller nailed two free throws with 29.6 seconds left to tie the game, 67-67.
Timeout, Body of Christ. The ball was inbounded to Thomas as he set up to take the final shot. After dribbling some time off the clock, Thomas took a hard step to fake the drive, and pulled up from the top of the key. The ball swished through the net as time expired and the crowd erupted in cheers.
"In the first half, I didn't hit as many shots as I wanted to and I just kept my head in the game and came out strong in the second half," Thomas said.
Fortunately for Body of Christ, Thomas' strong play in the second half led the team to their second straight victory, as they won by a final score of 70-67.
Team 212 falls to D1 Sports, 66-59
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Game one of the Greater NC Pro-Am started off with a physical first half, as Duke reserve Ryan Kelly and D1 Sports scored plenty of points in the paint against NCCU's C.J. Wilkerson and Team 212.
Both teams struggled with perimeter shooting in the first half as many of the points scored were results of second chance opportunities. Kelly got to work early by following up on his teammates' missed buckets. He also found success at the free throw line, an area at which he struggled on Tuesday night.
Wilkerson used his athleticism to earn some points in transition. His 15 point performance kept the game tight despite Kelly's exceptional offensive ability.
The first trey of the game came with 32.5 seconds left in the 2nd quarter as Team 212's Landon Clement knocked down a shot from three point land. Clement followed the bucket just seconds later with a pull-up jumper from the baseline, but D1 Sports still took a 30-21 lead into halftime.
The second half was a different story when it came to the long range jumpers. Kelly got into a rhythm early, starting off the second half with a three pointer. His teammates provided support as former Wake Forest guard Taron Downey showed nice touch, knocking down an impressive baseline floater.
Team 212 also bounced back from poor shooting in the first half as Clement knocked down three more treys in the second half. 12 of his 16 points came from three balls as his threat to hit the deep shot complemented Wilkerson's aggressive ability to attack the rim.
N.C. State wing player Scott Wood had shooting troubles for Team 212, missing on several shots before hitting his first three pointer with 46 seconds to go in the final quarter. D1 Sports responded to the three by hitting three of four free throws, and came away with the win, 66-59.
Game one of the Greater NC Pro-Am started off with a physical first half, as Duke reserve Ryan Kelly and D1 Sports scored plenty of points in the paint against NCCU's C.J. Wilkerson and Team 212.
Both teams struggled with perimeter shooting in the first half as many of the points scored were results of second chance opportunities. Kelly got to work early by following up on his teammates' missed buckets. He also found success at the free throw line, an area at which he struggled on Tuesday night.
Wilkerson used his athleticism to earn some points in transition. His 15 point performance kept the game tight despite Kelly's exceptional offensive ability.
The first trey of the game came with 32.5 seconds left in the 2nd quarter as Team 212's Landon Clement knocked down a shot from three point land. Clement followed the bucket just seconds later with a pull-up jumper from the baseline, but D1 Sports still took a 30-21 lead into halftime.
The second half was a different story when it came to the long range jumpers. Kelly got into a rhythm early, starting off the second half with a three pointer. His teammates provided support as former Wake Forest guard Taron Downey showed nice touch, knocking down an impressive baseline floater.
Team 212 also bounced back from poor shooting in the first half as Clement knocked down three more treys in the second half. 12 of his 16 points came from three balls as his threat to hit the deep shot complemented Wilkerson's aggressive ability to attack the rim.
N.C. State wing player Scott Wood had shooting troubles for Team 212, missing on several shots before hitting his first three pointer with 46 seconds to go in the final quarter. D1 Sports responded to the three by hitting three of four free throws, and came away with the win, 66-59.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Team McGladrey 77 Lucky Seven 75
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
A lot of red could be spotted in the crowd for the final game Tuesday at the Greater NC Pro-Am as N.C. State's C.J. Leslie and Team McGladrey faced Courtney Fells and Lucky Seven. Incoming N.C. State freshmen Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown made their league debut with Team McGladrey.
St. Augustine's College's Hayward Fain got things started with two points for Lucky Seven. Team McGladrey responded with a couple three balls from Brown and C.J. Williams. Former Wolfpack star Courtney Fells ended the quarter with a three pointer of his own, giving Lucky Seven a 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.
One of the top plays of the game occurred early in the second quarter, when Leslie leaped up with a powerful rejection on Fells' shot attempt, bringing the fans to their feet. Later in the quarter, Harrow showed off his athleticism with a one-handed slam from the baseline. On Team McGladrey's next possession, Harrow knocked down three of his 25 points to cut Lucky Seven's lead to one. Former Wake Forest forward Cameron Stanley showed off his athleticism with a two-handed tomahawk slam to gain the lead for Team McGladrey, but Fain's trey as time expired left the score tied at halftime.
Team McGladrey held a close lead for the majority of the third quarter, but Lucky Seven reclaimed the advantage after a dunk by Fells. Stanley knocked down two free throws with three seconds left in the period to give his team a four point lead going into the final quarter.
Lucky Seven controlled most of the fourth quarter, as they were usually able to respond any time Team McGladrey threatened to make a run. Brown brought his team within two with an impressive scoop for two of his 18 points, but Stanley converted an old-fashioned three point play on the other end after being fouled by Harrow. Lucky Seven appeared to be pulling away with a late 75-70 advantage.
Enter Leslie.
Fan favorite Leslie received cheers from the crowd after an impressive two-handed slam. As Lucky Seven's lead was cut to three with just under a minute to play, Brown got a steal and passed the rock to Harrow in transition for a lay-up, making it a one point game.
Timeout Lucky Seven. With 37 seconds to go, Team McGladrey's aggressive defense forced Fells into turning the ball over on the inbounds pass. With 20 seconds to go, Brown was off the mark on a tough shot, but Leslie came soaring in for a put-back jam to regain Team McGladrey's first lead of the quarter. Lucky Seven was unable to score, and Harrow ended the game hitting the second of two free throws. Team McGladrey was the victor in a shocking comeback, 77-75.
A lot of red could be spotted in the crowd for the final game Tuesday at the Greater NC Pro-Am as N.C. State's C.J. Leslie and Team McGladrey faced Courtney Fells and Lucky Seven. Incoming N.C. State freshmen Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown made their league debut with Team McGladrey.
St. Augustine's College's Hayward Fain got things started with two points for Lucky Seven. Team McGladrey responded with a couple three balls from Brown and C.J. Williams. Former Wolfpack star Courtney Fells ended the quarter with a three pointer of his own, giving Lucky Seven a 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.
One of the top plays of the game occurred early in the second quarter, when Leslie leaped up with a powerful rejection on Fells' shot attempt, bringing the fans to their feet. Later in the quarter, Harrow showed off his athleticism with a one-handed slam from the baseline. On Team McGladrey's next possession, Harrow knocked down three of his 25 points to cut Lucky Seven's lead to one. Former Wake Forest forward Cameron Stanley showed off his athleticism with a two-handed tomahawk slam to gain the lead for Team McGladrey, but Fain's trey as time expired left the score tied at halftime.
Team McGladrey held a close lead for the majority of the third quarter, but Lucky Seven reclaimed the advantage after a dunk by Fells. Stanley knocked down two free throws with three seconds left in the period to give his team a four point lead going into the final quarter.
Lucky Seven controlled most of the fourth quarter, as they were usually able to respond any time Team McGladrey threatened to make a run. Brown brought his team within two with an impressive scoop for two of his 18 points, but Stanley converted an old-fashioned three point play on the other end after being fouled by Harrow. Lucky Seven appeared to be pulling away with a late 75-70 advantage.
Enter Leslie.
Fan favorite Leslie received cheers from the crowd after an impressive two-handed slam. As Lucky Seven's lead was cut to three with just under a minute to play, Brown got a steal and passed the rock to Harrow in transition for a lay-up, making it a one point game.
Timeout Lucky Seven. With 37 seconds to go, Team McGladrey's aggressive defense forced Fells into turning the ball over on the inbounds pass. With 20 seconds to go, Brown was off the mark on a tough shot, but Leslie came soaring in for a put-back jam to regain Team McGladrey's first lead of the quarter. Lucky Seven was unable to score, and Harrow ended the game hitting the second of two free throws. Team McGladrey was the victor in a shocking comeback, 77-75.
Coaches in Christ 78 Team Navy 69
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Word of God guard Bishop Daniels and Coaches in Christ faced Andre Dawkins and Team Navy for the third match-up of the night. Duke's Ryan Kelly and Tyler Thornton and former ECU guard Derrick Wiley were among the local stars on Team Navy's roster.
Team Navy got off to a quick start in the first quarter with a run sparked by Andre Dawkins. Dawkins showed off tremendous elevation on a one-handed slam and shortly followed it with a long three ball to give his team a 13-7 lead. Dawkins, who scored 9 points, ended the quarter with a second chance two pointer, maintaining the lead by 6.
Kelly found his way to the free throw line on multiple occasions, but struggled from the charity stripe. Coaches in Christ took advantage, as Marques Oliver came off the bench to bring some offense to his team. Anthony Hilliard knocked down a quick four points to end the half, giving his team a 35-34 lead.
Coaches in Christ's Roddrick Brown took over in the second half with a couple early two-handed slams. Coaches in Christ led most of the quarter, but Wiley knocked down a trey to tie the game at 43-43. Brown finished the quarter the way he started, hitting two points with 11 seconds go. Coaches in Christ ended the quarter with a three point lead.
The final period of play was highlighted by three balls from both sides. Thornton gave Blue Devil fans reason for optimism with excellent perimeter shooting to keep his team in the game, but Brown's play down low ultimately made the difference in the game. Wiley hit a three ball with under a minute to go, but it was not enough. Brown ended up with 19 points and Coaches in Christ pulled off the win, 78-69.
Word of God guard Bishop Daniels and Coaches in Christ faced Andre Dawkins and Team Navy for the third match-up of the night. Duke's Ryan Kelly and Tyler Thornton and former ECU guard Derrick Wiley were among the local stars on Team Navy's roster.
Team Navy got off to a quick start in the first quarter with a run sparked by Andre Dawkins. Dawkins showed off tremendous elevation on a one-handed slam and shortly followed it with a long three ball to give his team a 13-7 lead. Dawkins, who scored 9 points, ended the quarter with a second chance two pointer, maintaining the lead by 6.
Kelly found his way to the free throw line on multiple occasions, but struggled from the charity stripe. Coaches in Christ took advantage, as Marques Oliver came off the bench to bring some offense to his team. Anthony Hilliard knocked down a quick four points to end the half, giving his team a 35-34 lead.
Coaches in Christ's Roddrick Brown took over in the second half with a couple early two-handed slams. Coaches in Christ led most of the quarter, but Wiley knocked down a trey to tie the game at 43-43. Brown finished the quarter the way he started, hitting two points with 11 seconds go. Coaches in Christ ended the quarter with a three point lead.
The final period of play was highlighted by three balls from both sides. Thornton gave Blue Devil fans reason for optimism with excellent perimeter shooting to keep his team in the game, but Brown's play down low ultimately made the difference in the game. Wiley hit a three ball with under a minute to go, but it was not enough. Brown ended up with 19 points and Coaches in Christ pulled off the win, 78-69.
Team 212 falls to Team Stackhouse, 76-72 (OT)
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
The second game of the night featured many familiar faces as Team Stackhouse squared off with Team 212. North Carolina sophomore John Henson leaped to win the tip-off for Team Stackhouse against tobacco road rival and N.C. State center Jordan Vandenberg to begin what proved to be the most competitive game of the evening.
Tar Heel Harrison Barnes was the story of the first quarter, hitting a three pointer, making all four of his free throws and dishing out several assists. North Carolina incoming freshman Reggie Bullock completed the Chapel Hill trio, displaying his ability to score points in the paint.
NCCU stars C.J. Wilkerson and Landon Clement showed no signs of intimidation against the talented Team Stackhouse. Early in the second quarter, Clement dropped in a floater over Henson to bring his team within two points. N.C. State perimeter threat Scott Wood nailed a three ball shortly after to give Team 212 its first lead of the game at 33-32. Team Stackhouse retook the lead after Bullock hit a deep three pointer, but Wilkerson's one-handed slam with three seconds to go electrified the crowd as it left the game knotted at 40-40 to end the half.
Vandenberg scored two of his eight points on a two-handed slam to start the second half. Team 212 held a one-point lead near the end of the third quarter after former NCCU forward Charles Futrell put in a second chance lay up. Henson retook the lead for Team Stackhouse, hitting a free throw to convert a three point play, leaving the score at 60-58 going into the final period of regulation.
Clement scored two of his 15 points from the free throw line late in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 68-68 with just under two minutes to play. Both teams were hurt by missed opportunities, including a travel by Henson and a late turnover by Wood. The score remained tied as Team Stackhouse inbounded the ball with 18.5 seconds to play, but a missed three point attempt by Henson at the buzzer led to overtime.
Barnes and Henson scored a quick five points to gain a quick overtime lead that they would never lose. Wilkerson found Futtrell for an alley-oop jam to bring the game within three, but it was too little, too late. Barnes had a game-high 31 points as the three Tar Heel teammates combined for 73 of their team's 76 points. Team Stackhouse escaped with a thrilling 76-72 overtime victory.
The second game of the night featured many familiar faces as Team Stackhouse squared off with Team 212. North Carolina sophomore John Henson leaped to win the tip-off for Team Stackhouse against tobacco road rival and N.C. State center Jordan Vandenberg to begin what proved to be the most competitive game of the evening.
Tar Heel Harrison Barnes was the story of the first quarter, hitting a three pointer, making all four of his free throws and dishing out several assists. North Carolina incoming freshman Reggie Bullock completed the Chapel Hill trio, displaying his ability to score points in the paint.
NCCU stars C.J. Wilkerson and Landon Clement showed no signs of intimidation against the talented Team Stackhouse. Early in the second quarter, Clement dropped in a floater over Henson to bring his team within two points. N.C. State perimeter threat Scott Wood nailed a three ball shortly after to give Team 212 its first lead of the game at 33-32. Team Stackhouse retook the lead after Bullock hit a deep three pointer, but Wilkerson's one-handed slam with three seconds to go electrified the crowd as it left the game knotted at 40-40 to end the half.
Vandenberg scored two of his eight points on a two-handed slam to start the second half. Team 212 held a one-point lead near the end of the third quarter after former NCCU forward Charles Futrell put in a second chance lay up. Henson retook the lead for Team Stackhouse, hitting a free throw to convert a three point play, leaving the score at 60-58 going into the final period of regulation.
Clement scored two of his 15 points from the free throw line late in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 68-68 with just under two minutes to play. Both teams were hurt by missed opportunities, including a travel by Henson and a late turnover by Wood. The score remained tied as Team Stackhouse inbounded the ball with 18.5 seconds to play, but a missed three point attempt by Henson at the buzzer led to overtime.
Barnes and Henson scored a quick five points to gain a quick overtime lead that they would never lose. Wilkerson found Futtrell for an alley-oop jam to bring the game within three, but it was too little, too late. Barnes had a game-high 31 points as the three Tar Heel teammates combined for 73 of their team's 76 points. Team Stackhouse escaped with a thrilling 76-72 overtime victory.
Body of Christ 94 Hendrick of Durham 86
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Night two of the Greater NC Pro-Am started off with a high-scoring contest, as Body of Christ played their first game of the season against Hendrick of Durham.
Former N.C. State reserve Johnny Thomas led Body of Christ to a 7-0 lead to start the game, but Chris Hill quickly responded by converting the old-fashioned three point play on the other end of the floor. The first quarter was highlighted by impressive play from Thomas and Hill, as the two battled back and forth. Late in the quarter, Thomas knocked down a jumper for two of his 20 first half points, only to be dunked on by Hill at the other end. Hill hit a three pointer to end the period, but his team trailed 32-22.
The second quarter was more of the same from Body of Christ, as Thomas continued to put on a show for the fans. Former Norfolk State standout Michael Deloach joined Hill in putting up points to keep up with Body of Christ's offensive attack, taking advantage of two second chance points to end the half. Unfortunately for Hendrick of Durham, they still found themselves on the wrong end of a 64-39 deficit at the half.
The large halftime lead was not enough to keep the game out of doubt for Body of Christ. Hendrick of Durham made things interesting, rallying behind the play of Deloach and NCCU forward Nick Chasten. Chasten's lay-up with 2:02 remaining in the final period brought the game within eight. With under a minute to play, Hill got a two point bucket of his own to bring the game within six. Despite 26 points from Deloach and 23 from Hill, Hendrick of Durham's comeback was not enough. Thomas' game-high 31 points led Body of Christ to victory, 94-86.
Night two of the Greater NC Pro-Am started off with a high-scoring contest, as Body of Christ played their first game of the season against Hendrick of Durham.
Former N.C. State reserve Johnny Thomas led Body of Christ to a 7-0 lead to start the game, but Chris Hill quickly responded by converting the old-fashioned three point play on the other end of the floor. The first quarter was highlighted by impressive play from Thomas and Hill, as the two battled back and forth. Late in the quarter, Thomas knocked down a jumper for two of his 20 first half points, only to be dunked on by Hill at the other end. Hill hit a three pointer to end the period, but his team trailed 32-22.
The second quarter was more of the same from Body of Christ, as Thomas continued to put on a show for the fans. Former Norfolk State standout Michael Deloach joined Hill in putting up points to keep up with Body of Christ's offensive attack, taking advantage of two second chance points to end the half. Unfortunately for Hendrick of Durham, they still found themselves on the wrong end of a 64-39 deficit at the half.
The large halftime lead was not enough to keep the game out of doubt for Body of Christ. Hendrick of Durham made things interesting, rallying behind the play of Deloach and NCCU forward Nick Chasten. Chasten's lay-up with 2:02 remaining in the final period brought the game within eight. With under a minute to play, Hill got a two point bucket of his own to bring the game within six. Despite 26 points from Deloach and 23 from Hill, Hendrick of Durham's comeback was not enough. Thomas' game-high 31 points led Body of Christ to victory, 94-86.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Team Jamison 67 Coaches in Christ 64 (OT)
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
The first night of the Greater NC Pro-Am finished the way it started as Word of God star Bishop Daniels and Coaches In Christ faced N.C. A&T's David Jordan and Team Jamison in what became an overtime thriller.
Fans came to their feet early as Daniels started off the game with an alley-oop jam. Coaches In Christ's Marques Oliver made some noise shortly after with a highlight slam of his own, leading his team to an early 15-13 lead.
Phillip Haynes carried Team Jamison in the first half, laying in a bucket to tie the game at 25-25. Oliver responded with a powerful two-handed dunk, leading his team to what would eventually be a three-point halftime lead.
Oliver continued to make a huge impact on the game in the second half, blocking a shot and pulling down a rebound early on. He later hit a free throw on the other end to convert a three-point play, stretching his team's lead to six.
J.J. Miller proved to be the second half star for Team Jamison, hitting multiple shots despite Daniels' tight defending. With nine minutes left in the final quarter of regulation, Miller scooped in a lay-up to put his team up by one. He stretched that lead to four with a three pointer just seconds later.
Daniels scored a quick five points, knocking down a deep trey and hitting a tough turn-around jumper. Oliver was the force down low, playing physical offense in the post and knocking down free throws. Two of his made shots from the charity stripe gave Coaches In Christ a 57-56 lead with a minute to go.
With 42 seconds left in regulation, Donta Davis stretched the lead to three with a difficult lay-up. Miller immediately responded with a clutch three pointer to tie the game, 59-59.
Oliver continued his strong offensive performance with a lay-in to give his team the lead, but it was short-lived. With six seconds to play, Team Jamison's Matt Sossaman hit a lay-up to knot the game at 61-61.
Overtime.
In the extra period, Marcus Gaines took advantage of a second chance put-back to keep Coaches In Christ in the game. Miller's scoring was too much to overcome, however. Daniels threw up a prayer as time expired, but it was no good. The night ended with another shocker as Team Jamison earned the W, 67-64.
The first night of the Greater NC Pro-Am finished the way it started as Word of God star Bishop Daniels and Coaches In Christ faced N.C. A&T's David Jordan and Team Jamison in what became an overtime thriller.
Fans came to their feet early as Daniels started off the game with an alley-oop jam. Coaches In Christ's Marques Oliver made some noise shortly after with a highlight slam of his own, leading his team to an early 15-13 lead.
Phillip Haynes carried Team Jamison in the first half, laying in a bucket to tie the game at 25-25. Oliver responded with a powerful two-handed dunk, leading his team to what would eventually be a three-point halftime lead.
Oliver continued to make a huge impact on the game in the second half, blocking a shot and pulling down a rebound early on. He later hit a free throw on the other end to convert a three-point play, stretching his team's lead to six.
J.J. Miller proved to be the second half star for Team Jamison, hitting multiple shots despite Daniels' tight defending. With nine minutes left in the final quarter of regulation, Miller scooped in a lay-up to put his team up by one. He stretched that lead to four with a three pointer just seconds later.
Daniels scored a quick five points, knocking down a deep trey and hitting a tough turn-around jumper. Oliver was the force down low, playing physical offense in the post and knocking down free throws. Two of his made shots from the charity stripe gave Coaches In Christ a 57-56 lead with a minute to go.
With 42 seconds left in regulation, Donta Davis stretched the lead to three with a difficult lay-up. Miller immediately responded with a clutch three pointer to tie the game, 59-59.
Oliver continued his strong offensive performance with a lay-in to give his team the lead, but it was short-lived. With six seconds to play, Team Jamison's Matt Sossaman hit a lay-up to knot the game at 61-61.
Overtime.
In the extra period, Marcus Gaines took advantage of a second chance put-back to keep Coaches In Christ in the game. Miller's scoring was too much to overcome, however. Daniels threw up a prayer as time expired, but it was no good. The night ended with another shocker as Team Jamison earned the W, 67-64.
Lucky Seven 90 Dreamworks 71
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
The third game of the evening was highlighted by former and current NC State stars, as Courtney Fells and Richard Howell led Lucky Seven to a crushing victory.
Quincy Miller played his second game of the night, as he suited up for Dreamworks. Miller put on an impressive effort, particularly with a dunk over Courtney Fells that proved to be one of the highlights of the night. Dreamworks led by 11 early, after deep perimeter shots from Miller and UNC-Greensboro's David Williams, but Fells rallied his team as they closed the gap to two by the end of the first quarter.
Fells struggled with his jump-shot toward the end of the half, but Howell showed off an inside-out game as he knocked down a three before scoring some hard-earned points in the post. Dreamworks stayed in it for the first half, as Miller and Isaac Smith knocked down a pair of treys before the end of the half. Lucky Seven enjoyed a halftime lead of 49-44.
Howell continued to carry his team in the second half, stretching the lead to nine with a couple of lay-ups at the end of the third period. Williams and his UNC-Greensboro teammate Trevis Simpson rallied their team with a couple three point shots to close the margin to three at the beginning of the fourth, but Lucky Seven was not to give up the lead. Simpson threw down an alley-oop dunk with just over a minute to play, but it would be the final two points for his team. Lucky Seven pulled off the win by a final score of 90-71.
The third game of the evening was highlighted by former and current NC State stars, as Courtney Fells and Richard Howell led Lucky Seven to a crushing victory.
Quincy Miller played his second game of the night, as he suited up for Dreamworks. Miller put on an impressive effort, particularly with a dunk over Courtney Fells that proved to be one of the highlights of the night. Dreamworks led by 11 early, after deep perimeter shots from Miller and UNC-Greensboro's David Williams, but Fells rallied his team as they closed the gap to two by the end of the first quarter.
Fells struggled with his jump-shot toward the end of the half, but Howell showed off an inside-out game as he knocked down a three before scoring some hard-earned points in the post. Dreamworks stayed in it for the first half, as Miller and Isaac Smith knocked down a pair of treys before the end of the half. Lucky Seven enjoyed a halftime lead of 49-44.
Howell continued to carry his team in the second half, stretching the lead to nine with a couple of lay-ups at the end of the third period. Williams and his UNC-Greensboro teammate Trevis Simpson rallied their team with a couple three point shots to close the margin to three at the beginning of the fourth, but Lucky Seven was not to give up the lead. Simpson threw down an alley-oop dunk with just over a minute to play, but it would be the final two points for his team. Lucky Seven pulled off the win by a final score of 90-71.
Team Stackhouse 81 D1 Sports 66
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium was packed for the second contest of the night as incoming North Carolina Tar Heel Harrison Barnes and Team Stackhouse faced Westchester Academy's Quincy Miller and D1 Sports. Number one overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft John Wall was in attendance, watching from the bench with coach Jerry Stackhouse.
Barnes got to work early with a second chance two pointer and a tomahawk slam as Team Stackhouse took an early 6-0 lead. Two more North Carolina teammates contributed as John Henson swatted away several D1 Sports shot attempts and Reggie Bullock threw down a jaw-dropping alley-oop. Barnes displayed his perimeter game, hitting a three pointer to extend his team's lead to 10 later in the quarter. Henson struggled from the line, but his team held a 23-10 advantage before the second period.
Other area players took part in Team Stackhouse's domination, as Miller's high school teammate Deuce Bello came off the bench to rack up some points. NC State junior C.J. Williams provided excellent play on both sides of the floor, playing physical defense and later inbouding an alley-oop to Bullock. Xavier freshman Jay Canty scored a quick seven points for D1 Sports at the end of the half, but Team Stackhouse held a halftime lead of 41-24.
Team Stackhouse controlled the second half early, as Hargrave Military Academy's P.J. Hairston brought the crowd to their feet with a put-back slam off a Barnes miss. He followed seconds later with a huge one-handed dunk in transition.
D1 Sports did not give up, however. Miller put on a show in the second half, starting with an eye-opening jam in the fourth quarter. Barnes responded with a deep jumper, but Miller followed with two made free throws and a dunk to cut the margin to 13. Miller ended the final period the way he started, slamming in a bucket as time expired. Despite his late efforts, Team Stackhouse came away with a convincing victory, 81-66.
McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium was packed for the second contest of the night as incoming North Carolina Tar Heel Harrison Barnes and Team Stackhouse faced Westchester Academy's Quincy Miller and D1 Sports. Number one overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft John Wall was in attendance, watching from the bench with coach Jerry Stackhouse.
Barnes got to work early with a second chance two pointer and a tomahawk slam as Team Stackhouse took an early 6-0 lead. Two more North Carolina teammates contributed as John Henson swatted away several D1 Sports shot attempts and Reggie Bullock threw down a jaw-dropping alley-oop. Barnes displayed his perimeter game, hitting a three pointer to extend his team's lead to 10 later in the quarter. Henson struggled from the line, but his team held a 23-10 advantage before the second period.
Other area players took part in Team Stackhouse's domination, as Miller's high school teammate Deuce Bello came off the bench to rack up some points. NC State junior C.J. Williams provided excellent play on both sides of the floor, playing physical defense and later inbouding an alley-oop to Bullock. Xavier freshman Jay Canty scored a quick seven points for D1 Sports at the end of the half, but Team Stackhouse held a halftime lead of 41-24.
Team Stackhouse controlled the second half early, as Hargrave Military Academy's P.J. Hairston brought the crowd to their feet with a put-back slam off a Barnes miss. He followed seconds later with a huge one-handed dunk in transition.
D1 Sports did not give up, however. Miller put on a show in the second half, starting with an eye-opening jam in the fourth quarter. Barnes responded with a deep jumper, but Miller followed with two made free throws and a dunk to cut the margin to 13. Miller ended the final period the way he started, slamming in a bucket as time expired. Despite his late efforts, Team Stackhouse came away with a convincing victory, 81-66.
Hendrick of Durham 68 Team McGladrey 67 (OT)
By Mark Carroll - Blog Coordinator
Great anticipation preceded the first match-up of the 2010 Greater NC Pro-Am, and the players did not disappoint. N.C. State senior Tracy Smith and incoming freshman CJ Leslie were two notable players representing Team McGladrey, as Hendrick of Durham featured local star Nick Chasten of N.C. Central.
Smith showed off his range early with a deep two points in the first quarter. Leslie contributed many buckets of his own as Wolfpack fans caught a glimpse at the future of State basketball.
Team McGladrey struggled from the free throw line and Hendrick of Durham took advantage of numerous second-chance opportunities to take an early lead. Hendrick of Durham's Chris Hill electrified the crowd toward the end of the half by slamming in an alley-oop. Tracy Smith put down a two-handed dunk of his own by the end of the second quarter, but his team trailed at halftime, 29-25.
The competition grew even more in the second half. Chasten knocked down a three pointer to extend his team's lead to 8, but Upper Room Christian Academy's Rodney Purvis led Team McGladrey on a run to tie the game, 37-37. The third quarter ended with a Purvis lay-up, but Hendrick of Durham held a 48-45 lead entering the final quarter of regulation.
The fourth period began with the dunk of the night, as Team McGladrey's Joel Kendrick threw down a one-handed slam over former Norfolk State star Michael Deloach. Later on, Leslie found Purvis for a lay-up as Team McGladrey took the lead, 55-54. James Zimmerman responded with one of his many three pointers of the night. Leslie continued to take over the game by converting an old-fashioned three point play and immediately rejecting a shot on the other end of the floor. In the final minute, Smith made the second of two free throws to knot the game at 63-63. Zimmerman missed what would have been a game-winning three at the other end and the ball was deflected out of bounds as time expired. Regulation was not enough to determine this one.
In the extra period, Leslie responded to a Chasten lay-up with two good free throws. The fans were on the edge of their seats as former Norfolk State star Michael Deloach put in a reverse lay-up to give Hendrick of Durham a 68-65 lead. Team McGladrey inbounded the ball with 12.2 seconds remaining and Philip Bryant hit a two-pointer, but it was too little, too late. Hendrick of Durham escaped with a thrilling victory, 68-67.
Great anticipation preceded the first match-up of the 2010 Greater NC Pro-Am, and the players did not disappoint. N.C. State senior Tracy Smith and incoming freshman CJ Leslie were two notable players representing Team McGladrey, as Hendrick of Durham featured local star Nick Chasten of N.C. Central.
Smith showed off his range early with a deep two points in the first quarter. Leslie contributed many buckets of his own as Wolfpack fans caught a glimpse at the future of State basketball.
Team McGladrey struggled from the free throw line and Hendrick of Durham took advantage of numerous second-chance opportunities to take an early lead. Hendrick of Durham's Chris Hill electrified the crowd toward the end of the half by slamming in an alley-oop. Tracy Smith put down a two-handed dunk of his own by the end of the second quarter, but his team trailed at halftime, 29-25.
The competition grew even more in the second half. Chasten knocked down a three pointer to extend his team's lead to 8, but Upper Room Christian Academy's Rodney Purvis led Team McGladrey on a run to tie the game, 37-37. The third quarter ended with a Purvis lay-up, but Hendrick of Durham held a 48-45 lead entering the final quarter of regulation.
The fourth period began with the dunk of the night, as Team McGladrey's Joel Kendrick threw down a one-handed slam over former Norfolk State star Michael Deloach. Later on, Leslie found Purvis for a lay-up as Team McGladrey took the lead, 55-54. James Zimmerman responded with one of his many three pointers of the night. Leslie continued to take over the game by converting an old-fashioned three point play and immediately rejecting a shot on the other end of the floor. In the final minute, Smith made the second of two free throws to knot the game at 63-63. Zimmerman missed what would have been a game-winning three at the other end and the ball was deflected out of bounds as time expired. Regulation was not enough to determine this one.
In the extra period, Leslie responded to a Chasten lay-up with two good free throws. The fans were on the edge of their seats as former Norfolk State star Michael Deloach put in a reverse lay-up to give Hendrick of Durham a 68-65 lead. Team McGladrey inbounded the ball with 12.2 seconds remaining and Philip Bryant hit a two-pointer, but it was too little, too late. Hendrick of Durham escaped with a thrilling victory, 68-67.
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