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12

McDonald wins MVP honors, Saints use a late rally to knock off Archbishop Carroll

BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Bristol, Tenn. – Leslie McDonald came into the championship game of the 25th annual Arby’s Classic praising his teammates.
McDonald spoke proudly of Briarcrest Christian’s unselfish character and team-first play.
McDonald’s words rang true on Monday evening.
The Saints played unselfish. And they played as a team.
But to ensure that Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.) walked out of Viking Hall with the tournament championship, McDonald first had to get a little … selfish.
The Saints were down 32-27 to Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) heading into halftime.
Then McDonald took control.
Mixing mid-range jump shots with slashing drives and long 3-pointers, McDonald keyed a second-half rally and pushed Archbishop Carroll to a hard-fought 71-61 victory over the Lions (6-3).
McDonald finished with 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds and seven steals, and also dished out seven assists.
And as the Saints (14-3) were holding the Arby’s Classic championship trophy high and pointing it towards the roof of Viking Hall, McDonald was clutching the tournament’s most valuable player trophy.
“This means a lot because we came from a long way,” McDonald said. “At first, in the beginning of the year, we were just trying to get the little kinks out. But now, it seems like we’re rolling along as a team. So it’s good. It’s a good feeling.”
While McDonald kept it cool, Briarcrest Christian coach John Harrington gave in to the moment.
Harrington had previously stated that the Saints’ semifinal win over Urspring, Germany was monumental, and that even making it to the championship game was “gravy.”
So what was it like to actually win the tournament?
“This is dessert, the big chocolate cake with icing and everything,” Harrington said smiling. “What a tournament, what great teams … it’s just unbelievable, and we’re just lucky and proud to be a part of this, especially the 25th-year anniversary.”
Briarcrest Christian also became the first-ever team from the Memphis, Tenn. area to win the Classic.
“We’re really proud if we’re the first,” Harrington said. “I know that there are Memphis teams that come down here all the time. I’ve been coaching for 24 years and I’ve known, every year, the Arby’s Classic. I’ve seen it on TV. I’ve watched it. I’ve read about in the papers and I keep up with it. So I think our fans back home are going to be really appreciative of this.”
Elgin Lee added 21 points and four assists for Briarcrest Christian, while Gregg Wooten contributed 19 points and knocked down four 3-pointers.
The Saints shot 57.1 percent (28 of 49) from the floor and hit 63.6 percent (7 of 11) of their 3-point attempts. Archbishop Carroll was 25 of 48 from the floor and outrebounded Briarcrest Christian 23-18.
Kristopher Joseph led the Lions with 22 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Rodney McGruder added 14 points and six rebounds, while Blake Price scored 10 points.
Briarcrest Christian outscored Archbishop Carroll 44-29 in the final two quarters, using a triangle-and-2 defense to clamp down on Joseph and keep the ball out of McGruder’s hands.
The Lions had no answer. They committed 15 turnovers and watched the game slip away after pulling within 57-55 with 3 minutes, 22 seconds remaining.
Still, Archbishop Carroll coach Clinton Perrow was proud. The Lions dominated their first three games, while Joseph and McGruder were two of the biggest stars to take the court in the Classic.
“It didn’t end like we wanted, but we have a lot to be thankful for,” Perrow said. “We try to play in these tournaments the same way we do in our conference. This was just a great experience for our kids and we all had a great time. It would have been nice to win one more, but it wasn’t our night. And they’re a great team.
McGruder and Joseph accounted for the Lions’ first 14 points, and Archbishop Carroll held a 14-10 lead with 2 minutes, 43 seconds to go in the first quarter.
But a 9-1 Briarcrest run gave the Saints a 19-16 lead heading into the second period.
Briarcrest Christian then made its move late in the third quarter.
The Saints went on an 8-1 run, following the path that McDonald and Lee blazed. And a 6-foot bank shot by McDonald pushed Briarcrest Christian ahead 47-42 with 1:56 left in the period.
“Coach told me he was going to look for me, so I had to accept that authority,” McDonald said. “My teammates looked for me, so I had to provide for them.”
An estimated 30,000 fans watched this year’s tournament.
| (276) 645-2569

ARCHBISHOP CARROLL (61)
Kristopher Joseph 8-15 5-10 22, Rodney McGruder 6-13 1-1 14, Blake Price 4-7 0-0 10, George 3-4 0-0 6, Dunkin 2-3 0-0 5, Mitrovic 2-3 0-2 4, Vincent 0-3 0-0 0, Sumlar 0-0 0-0 0, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-48 6-13 61.
BRIARCREST CHRISTIAN (71)
Leslie McDonald 12-19 1-2 26, Elgin Lee 9-18 1-3 21, Gregg Wooten 6-8 3-4 19, Williams 0-3 2-4 2, McDowell 1-1 0-0 2, Green 0-0 1-2 1, Zettler 0-0 0-0 0, Faulconer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-49 8-15 71.
Archbishop Carroll 16 16 15 14—61
Briarcrest Christian 19 8 20 24—71
3-point goals—AC 5-11 (Joseph, McGruder, Price 2, Dunkin), BC 7-11 (McDonald, Lee 2, Wooten 4). Rebounds—AC 23 (Joseph 8), BC 18 (McDonald 8). Assists—AC 10 (Vincent 3), BC 18 (McDonald 7). Steals—AC 4 (Joseph 2), BC 9 (McDonald 5). Blocks—AC 0, BC 2 (Faulconer, Williams). Turnovers—AC 15, BC 8. Fouls—AC 15, BC 12. Technicals—None.

2007 Arby’s Classic all-tournament team
MVP – Leslie McDonald, Briarcrest Christian, junior guard
Kristopher Joseph, Archbishop Carroll, senior forward
Rodney McGruder, Archbishop Carroll, junior guard
Alekandar Mitrovic, Archbishop Carroll, senior forward
Darius Morrow, Columbia, senior forward
Blake Price, Archbishop Carroll, junior guard
Maurice Stuckey, Urspring, guard
Greg Wooten, Briarcrest Christian, junior guard
Thierno Agne, Urspring, forward
Dego Pena, Charlotte, senior guard
Elgin Lee, Briarcrest Christian, senior guard
Jared Cartwright, Tabernacle, junior guard
Johnny Williams, Briarcrest Christian, junior center
Justin Sylvester, Dobyns-Bennett, junior guard
Travis Leslie, Columbia, senior guard
Nigel Carter, Dorsey, senior forward
Tarmar Sutherland, Father Henry Carr, senior guard
Pablo Warner, Iolani, junior forward
Eddie Piccinini, Pine Castle, senior guard

Champion – Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.)
Second place – Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.)
Third place – Columbia (Decatur, Ga.)
Fourth place – Urspring, Germany
Fifth place – Father Henry Carr (Toronto, Canada)
Sixth place – Dobyns-Bennett

Posted by Brian T. Smith

Bucs hold on late for much-needed win

BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Johnson City, Tenn. – ETSU senior forward Andrew Reed is almost always the first Buc to show up at practice and the last to leave.
And when no one’s looking, the 6-foot-8 Reed hoists long jump shots and 3-pointers.
Yes, he works on his post moves, dribbling skills and footwork. But in practice, Reed swishes long-range shots like he’s been doing it his whole life.
Maybe he has.
Because Reed set fire to the nets on Sunday afternoon, setting career-highs in points (24) and made 3-pointers (2) on 9-of-16 shooting, and he collected 12 rebounds while blocking two shots.
More importantly, Reed single-handedly propelled ETSU to a 72-69 victory over Appalachian State in a non-conference game before an estimated crowd of 1,750 at the Mini-Dome.
“I always knew I could shoot the 3, but sometimes it’s just not in the game plan, you know,” Reed said. “But today I guess it was. I’m gonna try and play like this every game and be more consistent and just go out there and play my hardest.”
Reed’s huge day was backed up by Buc (6-7) sophomore guard Mike Smith’s best performance of the year. Smith scored 18 points, and hit 4 of his 5 3-point attempts. And he did not shy away from acknowledging that a superstitious uniform number change – Smith swapped out No. 23 for No. 1, the number he wore as a freshman – may have given him the mental edge he lacked earlier in the season.
“That may have been it. I guess that 23 had some kind of funk in it or something. But I’m back now,” Smith said smiling.
Donald Sims scored a team-high 13 points and Doug McLaughlin-Williams added 12 points and four made 3-pointers for Appalachian State (5-6).
As a team, ETSU shot 49 percent (24 of 49) from the field and connected on 44.4 percent (8 of 18) of their 3-point attempts.
The hot shooting gave the Bucs enough buffer room to prevent a late Mountaineers rally.
Down 38-20 at halftime, Appalachian State used a late 14-0 run to pull within 68-66 with 23.6 seconds left in the second half.
Yet four straight late free throws by Smith allowed the Bucs to hold on for a much-needed victory.
“It was a good win, a good win,” said ETSU coach Murry Bartow. “Obviously it got a little scary late, and I am concerned … we’ve got to figure out how to be more consistent for 40 minutes. We played awfully well for 34 or 35 minutes.”
The game’s first four minutes, however, were filled with rust.
ETSU committed three offensive turnovers and allowed the Mountaineers to pull down four offensive rebounds, while Appalachian State missed its first 7 field-goal attempts.
The only converted field goal came on a 3-pointer from the right-center wing by Bucs senior guard Travis Strong.
It took a monster block by Kevin Tiggs – Tiggs swatted away a layup attempt by Mountaineer guard Donald Sims and the ball landed three rows back in the stands – to wake up the Bucs.
Three-pointers from Smith and Reed, and fast-break baskets by Reed and Courtney Pigram (12 points) pushed ETSU to a 15-4 advantage with 10 minutes, 48 seconds left in the first half.
Meanwhile, the Mountaineers stayed cold – Appalachian State was 1 for its first 15.
“I was disappointed with the way we started that first half,” said Mountaineers coach Houston Fancher. “I wish we’d played a whole lot better and shot the ball the way we’re capable of in the first half. It was great to see them fight back and compete – we’ve done that before – but we just didn’t have the intensity in the first half.”
The Bucs then stretched their lead to 20-10 following another 3 by Reed. And a textbook penetrate-and-dish move by Jocolby Davis set up a thunderous dunk by Reed, giving ETSU a 30-18 lead with 3:20 remaining in the first half.
A 13-3 Mountaineers run midway through the second half brought Appalachian State within 56-44 with 8:27 left in the game. The Mountaineers’ late charge was aided by their use of a half-court, man-to-man defense and a series of ETSU turnovers.
But another leaping dunk by Reed put the Bucs up 59-45. And when Reed slammed down yet another basket on ETSU’s next offensive possession, his career day and a much-needed Buc win was cemented.
All Reed could do was smile.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to do this,” Reed said.
| (276) 645-2569

ETSU 72, APPALACHIAN STATE 69
ASU (5-6) - SIMS, Donald 3-10 4-4 13; McLAUGHLIN-WILLIAMS 4-7 0-0 12; BOOTH, Jeremi 3-7 0-0 9; CLAYTON, Jeremy 3-7 3-9 9; ABRAHAM, Ryann 3-5 0-0 8; MINTER, Donte 3-6 1-4 7; BRAND, Kellen 2-8 1-2 6; BERMUDEZ, Eduardo 2-6 1-2 5; BOWNE, Davis 0-0 0-0 0; BUTTS, Isaac 0-1 0-0 0; HIGHSMITH, A.J. 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-59 10-21 69.
ETSU (6-7) - REED, Andrew 9-16 4-5 24; SMITH, Mike 3-7 6-8 15; PIGRAM, Courtney 5-9 2-2 12; SWADER, Kenyona 3-6 3-4 10; TIGGS, Kevin 2-3 3-3 7; STRONG, Travis 1-5 0-0 3; DAVIS, Jocolby 0-1 1-2 1; HUBBARD, Tommy 0-0 0-0 0; WILLIAMS, Micah 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-48 19-24 72.
ASU 20 49-69
ETSU 38 34-72
3-point goals--ASU 13-34 (McLAUGHLIN-WILLIAMS 4-7; BOOTH, Jeremi 3-6; SIMS, Donald 3-7; ABRAHAM, Ryann 2-3; BRAND, Kellen 1-6; HIGHSMITH, A.J. 0-2; BERMUDEZ, Eduardo 0-2; CLAYTON, Jeremy 0-1), ETSU 7-17 (SMITH, Mike 3-4;
REED, Andrew 2-4; SWADER, Kenyona 1-3; STRONG, Travis 1-3; DAVIS, Jocolby
0-1; PIGRAM, Courtney 0-2). Fouled out--ASU-None, ETSU-None. Rebounds--ASU
37 (CLAYTON, Jeremy 7), ETSU 32 (REED, Andrew 12). Assists--ASU 16 (SIMS,
Donald 9), ETSU 15 (PIGRAM, Courtney 7). Total fouls--ASU 18, ETSU 18.
Technical fouls--ASU-None, ETSU-None.

Posted by Brian T. Smith

Twilley’s departure second time in four days a Buc has left ETSU.

BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Johnson City, Tenn. – ETSU sophomore guard Dequan Twilley has been dismissed from the Bucs men’s basketball team.
The 6-foot, 170 pound Twilley was averaging 4.0 points, 2.0 assists, 0.7 rebounds and 20.3 minutes per game.
Twilley (Shelbyville, Tenn.) finished sixth in the Atlantic Sun with 4.0 assists per game as a freshman in 2006-07 and scored a career-high 15 points in the Bucs’ 79-73 home win over Marshall on Dec. 4.
“I’m not … I don’t know that it’s permanent, but it probably is, yes,” said ETSU coach Murry Bartow. “We’ve been through a lot with Dequan in over a year and a half, and those of you who were around last year can remember the suspensions and different things last year. And he’s just got some family situations. The bottom line is that he’s probably not going to be part of our team. That could change, but I doubt it will. He’s got to clear some things up. As coaches we’ve all got rules and stipulations and standards, and you’ve got to meet those standards.”
The main reason for Twilley’s departure was that he reportedly wanted to spend more time with his family.
“I hope he does well and that things work out for him,” Bartow said. “No hard feelings on our end, but he wasn’t meeting the standards of ETSU basketball – it’s just that simple.”
Twilley’s departure now marks the second time in less than a week that a Buc player has left the team.
ETSU sophomore forward Blake Mishler (2.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 10.5 minutes per game) transferred from the team on Thursday.
Asked if the sudden departures of Twilley and Mishler were hard for the Bucs, Bartow responded, “It is, it is. When you’ve got a nine-man rotation and two of ‘em are down, it cuts into your rotation. It cuts … again, two of your line, it cuts out of the mix. So that was difficult. And that’s really another part of the story. [Possibly losing to Appalachian State] would have been a devastating loss. I don’t want to overstate it. But if we would have lost at the end, it would have been a big loss.”
| (276) 645-2569

Posted by Brian T. Smith

Archbishop Carroll’s Rodney McGruder and Kristopher Joseph play a step above for the Lions

BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Bristol, Tenn. – Kristopher Joseph and Rodney McGruder are already idols to their Archbishop Carroll High School teammates. Their legacy burns, shines bright and grows daily.
And Josesph and McGruder haven’t even graduated yet.
Joseph, a 6-foot-8, 220 pound senior forward, has signed with Syracuse University, turning down Georgetown, Maryland, Clemson, Texas and George Mason in the process.
McGruder, a 6-foot-5, 195 pound junior guard, has given a verbal commitment to Kansas State University after drawing interest from Pittsburgh and the University of Miami, Fla.
The duo stole the show in the Lions’ 67-49 win over Tennessee High on Wednesday evening in the first round of the 25th annual Arby’s Classic at Viking Hall.
McGruder scored a game-high 25 points on 11-of-22 shooting to lead Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), while Joseph added 21 points (9 of 15), 12 rebounds and five steals.
Together, they accounted for 46 of the Lions’ 67 points.
And it’s not the first time they’ve shared the headlining bill for the same big show.
“Carroll has a very rich tradition of basketball. We’ve had guys come through who’ve gone on to play college or even in the pros,” said Lions coach Clinton Perrow. “But for the right now, for guys like Rodney or Kristopher, it’s almost like there’s an unspoken idolization. Having them around is special to our whole team.”
McGruder named Rudy Gay, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady and Dwayne Wade as his NBA icons. His “most-inspiring list” hits the mark.
Playing with a smooth, relaxed style that perfectly disguises his on-the-court intensity, McGruder looks as comfortable hoisting and dropping a 3-pointer as he does slashing through the lane and burning an opposing defense for a quick 2.
“I know if I just stay focused I’ll make it like my father always told me. He’s always pushed me to be the best I can be,” McGruder, 16, said. “That’s why, when I play basketball, I try to give it my all. I work hard because I want to be better. I want to separate myself from other players.”
Joseph matches McGruder’s intensity.
Joseph dreamed of playing for Syracuse since he was a child.
“That was even before ‘Melo [Carmelo Anthony] came,” Joseph said laughing. “That was my dream school since I was a little kid. Then I just wanted to go there even more, because he was my favorite player.”
But to wear the orange, Joseph first had to make sacrifices.
His family is from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. He grew up in Montreal, Canada. Joseph knew that a life-changing move was in order if he was ever going to play in the Carrier Dome. So, Archbishop Carroll, it was.
“It was tough at first. I was 17, and it was hard to be without your family and friends,” Joseph said. “I see them about three times a year now. But I knew I’d be gone for most of the rest of my life, so I just went ahead and did it.”
Joseph never looked back. And now, he and McGruder know that, together, they’re part of something special. And they fully intend to take their legacy at Archbishop Carroll to the limit.
“Having Rodney around takes a lot of the weight off my shoulders,” Joseph said. “With him scoring and stepping up, it really is taking the pressure off me, and it makes things a lot easier. We have a lot of chemistry. We just gel real well together.”
| (276) 645-2569

Posted by Brian T. Smith

Ralph III and Robert guide Northview in Arby’s Classic

BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Bristol, Tenn. – If you grow up anywhere in the South, play basketball, and your name includes the words “Ralph” and “Sampson,” you’re bound to get a lot of attention – a lot of long looks and stares.
Ralph Sampson III – son of the still-revered former University of Virginia and NBA star Ralph Sampson – is used to the attention. And he’s long since learned how to deal with, process and deflect the stares.
But what makes the younger Sampson’s current journey to fulfill the expectations his given name brings truly special is the fact that he hasn’t been alone.
In fact, he’s had a younger brother to help share a steadily-increasing spotlight.
Sampson III, a 6-foot-11, 225 pound senior center who has committed to the University of Minnesota, is joined on the Northview Titans’ (Duluth, Ga.) roster by another Sampson – his brother, Robert, is a 6-foot-8, 175 pound sophomore forward.
Together, the Sampson brothers helped guide Northview to a 42-29 win over Tennessee High on Friday morning in a loser’s bracket second round game in the 25th annual Arby’s Classic at Viking hall.
As Ralph played King Kong – recording 17 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks as he tried and nearly succeeded in swatting away everything the Vikings attempted to toss into the basket from inside the paint – Robert played it cool from the outside, adding six rebounds, two assists, two steals, two points and a block.
“It definitely helps having [Robert] with me,” Ralph said. “I try not to ever give in to the pressure or the attention or anything. But just knowing that he’s always around makes everything easier. He’s a good player and a good teammate, too.”
To many, Ralph is still a work in progress. His defensive skills – led by an innate jumping ability and quick hands – currently outpace his talent on the offensive end of the floor. But he finishes strong near the basket, shoots well from 10-feet and out, and has shown the potential to dominate opposing defenders.
Meanwhile, this season marks the first that Robert has seen consistent playing time on the Titans’ varsity squad.
“They’re both great,” said Northview (9-2) coach Steve Bombard. “Ralph is a giant and he’s still growing as a player. And Robert does a lot of different things on the court that help us and allow us to keep the ball moving.”
So, the question arises: Which Sampson takes the crown when the two go head-to-head?
“Oh, that’d be my brother,” Robert said laughing. “But I’m getting closer. I’m still coming up.”
| (276) 645-2569

Posted by Brian T. Smith