EPWBA Game Recaps: Prep Division

The Commodores and the Scorpions battled again for the right to go to the sweet 16. The Commodores were hoping to get out to a quick start, but the Scorpions were not going allow it. The Scorpions controlled the boards as they out rebounded the Commodores early. Silas Sneed and Conner Johns led the Scorpions as they were only down 1-point at halftime. The Commodores began to take charge in the second half. Hustle plays on defense by Claira Cooper, Riley O’Neal, Josh Smith and Josh Robinson were the catalyst as the Commodores outscored the Scorpions 8-3 in the 3rd quarter. By the fourth quarter, the scoring of Nick Fontana and Destiny Lucas; as well as dominance on the boards allowed the Commodores to close out a scrappy Scorpion team that never quit 22-15

The Commodores and the Hoosiers battled to the very end in one of the most exciting games of the year. The Commodores started quickly and grabbed an early 1st quarter lead. But it was the stellar play from Louis Crimiel and Blake Garman that helped the Hoosiers close the 1st quarter with a 4-point lead. The Commodores hung in there during the second quarter with significant contributions from Claira Cooper, Josh Smith and Josh Hampton. The second quarter scoring from Nick Fontana (10 pts) helped cut the lead to 2-points by halftime. Both defenses were very effective during the third quarter, but it was a 3 point basket by the Hoosiers’ Earnest Crews that helped them increase the lead to 4 points by the end of the 3rd quarter. The Commodores would fight back. Led by Destiny Lucas (10 pts), Josh Robinson (8 pts) and Riley O’Neal they cut the lead to 3 with less than 2 minutes to go. After a timeout, the Commodores ran a play that isolated Drew Arnold who received a pass and drained a 3-point basket with less than 1-minute to go. And with 13 seconds to go Riley hit Destiny with a pass as she hit the game winning shot with 5 seconds to go. What a fantastic game as the Commodores got their seventh victory.

This game was a game of two halves. The Antelopes opened up on fire. In the first quarter, Adrian T. had 6 points, Joel A. and Donovahn K. each had a bucket, and Jafar R. went to the line and made back-to-back free throws. In the second quarter, Donovahn K. hit a two-pointer and a long three-pointer. When the first half ended, the Antelopes had their highest output in any half this year and were leading 19 - 6. In the third quarter the Musketeers closed the gap to 20 - 10. The Musketeers did not give up, however. They charged back to close within in 3 points with Michael pouring in 6 points and Angue making a bucket and a free throw, and Jared R. making a basket, also. The game ended with the Antelopes hanging on to a 24 - 21 victory. Adrian T. had 8 points, Donovahn K. had 7 points, and Evereett H. added 5 points for the Antelopes. The Musketeers were lead by Michael with 12 points and Angue had 7 points.

Coming off a thrilling victory Saturday, the Commodores were back at it Wednesday night against the Catamounts. The game was tightly contested in the second quarter as the Catamounts grabbed a 10-8 lead. They were led by Kaileb VanderVeen (6 pts), Noah Wheatley and Jack Henshaw (4 pts) as they battled well against the Commodores. The Commodores used balanced scoring by 5 different players. And after tying the game midway through the second quarter, the Commodores were ignited by Nick Fontana (12 pts) and Jake Murray (4 pts) who helped them close the quarter with a 6-0 run. The balanced scoring for the Commodores continued in the second half. But it was the defensive effort, led by Josh Robinson (4 pts), Riley O’Neal and Drew Arnold, that was the driving force. They forced turnovers and got the ball on the inside to Destiny Lucas (10 pts). The overall team effort and ball distribution allowed the Commodores control the second half as they went on to win 34-16.

The Antelopes and Longhorns played a close game. The Antelopes got a quick bucket to start the game, then they struggled the rest of the half. With too many turnovers and individual play on offense, the Antelopes were out of sync. The Longhorns played good defense and the half ended 6 - 6. In the third quarter, the Longhorns opened up a a two point lead with Willow N. and Joseph C. each getting a bucket. The Longhorns opened a six point lead early in the fourth, with Michael D. making two baskets. With the score 15 - 9 in favor of the Longhorns, Donovahn K. came alive. He made two foul shots and a 18-foot basket, and along with Adam C.'s bucket, the game was tied with just over three minutes to play. Adrian T. hit the go ahead basket and Donovahn K. added some insurance with about one minute to play. Donovahn K. had six points,and Everett H. had five points for the Antelopes. Michael D. had nine points for the Longhorns. The Longhorns played a great game but just came up short in the end. The Antelopes were very fortunate to come away with a 19 - 15 win.

Riding a win streak, the Commodores were poised for another win. However, the Scorpions were not going to give the Commodores anything. The Scorpions were led by Conner Johns (16 pts) and Caleb Brown (6 pts) as they controlled the game with their physical play and their awesome shooting to take a 7 point halftime lead. Two early baskets in the third quarter helped stretch the lead to double digits. Drew Arnold’s defense ignited a furious comeback by the Commodores. They turned up the heat and shut down the Scorpion scoring. Destiny Lucas (12 pts), Nick Fontana (10 pts) and Josh Hampton (9 pts) were incredible down the stretch as the Commodores took the lead in the 4th quarter and never looked back. This was a total team effort as the hustle plays from Riley O’Neal and Josh Robinson and contributions from Jake Murray, Josh Smith and Claira Cooper helped the Commodores to difficult 34-28 win.

This game opened up slowly as both teams were feeling each other out. At the end of the 1st half it was 9 - 7 with the Terriers leading. In the 3rd quarter the action began to pick up. The Terrier's, Jeremiah, began to penetrate and Waleed made a couple buckets underneath to give them a lead of 16 - 7. But the Antelopes fought back with a basket from Everett H. and Adrian T. to end the 3rd quarter with the score 16 - 11. In the 4th quarter, Joel A., for the Antelopes, began to play pressure defense. He got a few steals and the Antelopes tied it up with a shot from Everett H. on a 10 footer from the side. With the score tied 17 - 17 the teams battled up and down the court. Adrian T. hit the go ahead bucket with around 2 minutes to play. When the Antelopes got the ball back, they passed the ball around and were able to run out the clock and get a 19 - 17 victory. Joel A. had 7 points, Adrian T. had 6 points, Everett H. had 5 points, and Donovahn had 1 point for the Antelopes. For the Terriers, Jeremiah was high scorer with 10 points, Waleed had 4 points and Quincy had 3 points.

The Commodores got their second win in a row Monday night after defeating the Longhorns 24-13. The Commodores raced out to an early lead 1st quarter lead and were paced by the scoring of Destiny Lucas, Nick Fontana and Joshua Smith. Down 7 points after one quarter, the Longhorns countered with tremendous hustle and defense and closed the gap to 3 points by halftime. Alexus Holloway (6 pts) and jump shots by Willow Nebach and Joshua Mehr kept the scoring close as the Longhorns continued to keep the pressure on the Commodores. The 4th quarter began with a flurry as the Commodores’ Pressure defense by Riley O’Neal, Drew Arnold and Josh Robinson created turnovers which produced many scoring opportunities. The late inside scoring of Josh Hampton, Robinson, Fontana and the Lucas blocked shots on the defensive end help shut down the “never-quit” play of the Longhorns. Great job Commodores!!!

After several tough defeats, the Commodores came out with tremendous intensity on both sides of the ball as they came away with their second win of the season. Led by early scoring from Nick Fontana (12 pts), Destiny Lucas (8 pts) and Joshua Smith, they raced out to a first quarter lead. Impressive rebounding by Claira Cooper and Jake Murray allowed for Commodore second chance points and the all-around team defense helped stifle the Musketeers’ attack. After baskets by Riley O’Neal and Josh Hampton helped opened up a large lead, the Musketeers got into gear and went on a 10-2 run. They were led by the scoring of Michael Sharpe, Cinque Stevens and Amari Johnson. The Commodores answered with clutch scoring by Josh Robinson (6 pts) and defensive stops by Drew Arnold that thwarted the Musketeer comeback attempt. Great job Commodores!!!

After a tough season opener on Saturday, the Commodores came back tonight with an 18-8 win over the Antelopes. Right out of the gate Nick Fontana and Destiny Lucas helped the Commodores bolt out to an early lead. This was aided by the team defense and ball movement; as evidenced by a key assist from Jake Murray to Nick to close out the scoring in the first half. The Antelopes, led by Donovan Keyes and Everett Heim, fought hard and pulled to within 4 pts mid way through the 3rd quarter. However, the stellar team play of the Commodores allowed them to pull away in the 4th quarter. Defensive efforts from Riley O'Neal and Drew Arnold and early rebounding by Claira Cooper helped slow down the Antelopes. Late baskets by Josh Robinson, Joshua Smith and Josh Hampton helped sealed the deal. Great win for the Commodores in a game that the Antelopes fought to the end.

WOLVERINES WIN A COME FROM BEHIND 1ST GAME WITH DEFENSE

P-18 ANTELOPES (H)vs P-22 WOLVERINES (V) 1st Game of Season

WOLVERIES 8 pts - ANTELOPES 6 pts FINAL SCORE

Corey Jackson for Wolverines scores 2 pts in 1st qtr W 2 - A 0

Adrain Touch for Antelopes scores 2 pts in 1st qtr W 2 - A 2

Jafar Ringold for Antelopes scores 2 pts in 2nd qtr W 2 - A 4

Dovovan Keyes for Antelopes scores 2 pts in 2nd qtr W 2 - A 6

Half Time Score WOLVERINES 2 - ANTELOPES 6

Corey Jackson for Wolverines scores 2 pts in 3rd qtr W 4 - A 6

Jaime Matoes for Wolverines scores 2 pts in 3rd qtr W 6 - A 6

Corey Jackson for Wolverines scores 2 pts in 4th qtr W 8 - A 6

Report by Coach Roger Lorenzo

P-22 WOLVERINES