by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
Meadowbrook wants to run, run and run some more.
On Monday night, so did Hermitage.
It turned the game into a full-court, press-you-press-me race that Meadowbrook won 69-57 to take the Henrico Holiday Hoops tournament.
The more athletic Monarchs loved the break-neck style and two Monarchs excelled in different periods.
Sterling Martin took advantage in the second. He scored 15 of Meadowbrook’s 21 points on an array of moves, mostly jumpers from the much-improved shooter.
He had two of his team’s three 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 17 points.
“I had to take over,” Martin said. “I saw the score getting a little lopsided, my team was looking a little down so I had to take it into my own hands, make a few plays and do what I had to do to help my team get back in the game.”
Teammate Doug Brewer did the same thing in the fourth period. Up 42-36 going into the final eight minutes, he scored nine straight points to answer Hermitage scores, a few from freshman Micah Thomas (15 points).
Brewer, after not scoring in the first half and only hitting three points in the third, had 14 points in the deciding quarter to tie Martin for the team- and game-lead of 17 points.
“Coach [Ksaan Brown] talked about stop rushing it and go to the basket,” Brewer said. “He always talks about team work and that’s what pulled off the victory.”
The Panthers, who won the Henrico title last season, came as close as six points down the stretch but the Monarchs held them off with their relentless drives to the basket.
Take tourney MVP Andrew Simmons (10 points).
With two minutes left, he received an outlet pass and instead of pulling the ball back with his team up seven points, he drove to the basket for an old-fashioned three-point play that put Meadowbrook up 10.
“We scrimmaged them before the season started and we knew they were very athletic,” Hermitage coach Joe Coulter said. “Tonight they were just a little bit better than we were. We played great all tournament, we got two big wins.”
Hermitage snapped a four-game losing streak during the tournament and played its sixth straight game without captain and leading scorer Manny Winston. He should return in 2009 as his cracked collarbone is close to 100 percent.
The Panthers received 11 points for Herman Kinard and nine from Jermaine Walters.
But it was Meadowbrook’s night.
“I think we kind of pulled them out of their style,” said Brown, in his first year as head man at Meadowbrook. “I don’t think they wanted to play that pace, that’s our pace. I kept telling my guys if we can get them to play our pace, we should come out with the win.”
Meadowbrook 11 21 10 27 – 69
Hermitage 13 9 14 21 – 57
Meadowbrook (5-1): Martin 17, Aiken 6, Carter 0, Brewer 17, Tucker 2, Morman 2, Coble 8, Simmons 10, Daily 4, Jackson-Davis 3. Totals: 27 12-22 69. 3-point goals: Martin 2, Aiken.
Hermitage (5-5): Blount 6, Thomas 15, Cumbia 2, Walters 9, Johnson 2, Burnette 2, McLeod 3, Kinard 11, Riddick 2, Alston 5. Totals: 21 13-25 57. 3-point goals: Walters, Thomas.
All-tournament team: Andrew Simmons, Meadowbrook (MVP); Doug Brewer, Meadowbrook; Micah Thomas, Hermitage; Herman Kinard, Hermitage; Tom Hart, St. Christopher’s; Trey Davis, Henrico
Processing your request, Please wait....
