By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Sunday slate at the Spalding Hoophall Classic hit full included a last-second win, a foreign all-star team and the event's star attractions - players like Ed Davis, Brandon Jennings and Samardo Samuels - delivering big time performances.
No game created more excitement than the showdown between Oak Hill Academy (Va.) and Mount St. Joseph (Md.). Brandon Jennings and Henry Sims matched each other with 32 points, but it was Oak Hill that escaped with a narrow victory thanks to a timely steal by Jennings.
Here is a complete rundown of the action Sunday at Blake Arena;;
Brewster Academy (N.H.) 111, Chinese Junior All-Stars 47
Before the high school action got underway, Blake Arena played host to an exhibition of international proportions, as Brewster Academy mauled the Chinese Junior All-Stars, 111-47.
Brewster was overwhelming from the start. Thanks to 21 first-half points from Mark Lyons, the Bobcats led 59-19 by halftime. Lyons finished with 23. Chauncey Gilliam also had 24 points to go along with eight steals.
Pan Zhi Yuan was the lone bright spot for the Chinese Junior All-Stars, ending up with 15 points.
Benedictine (Va.) 69, St. George's School (Tenn.) 49
Benedictine posted a shutout in the first quarter, racing out to a 25-0 lead after eight minutes. The Cadets would not look back, pounding St. George's, 69-49.
Future North Carolina Tar Heel Ed Davis owned the post for Benedictine. The 6-foot-9 Davis poured in 21 points, including a number of powerful flushes. He also grabbed 10 rebounds.
St. George's played admirably after the first quarter, despite being without star wing man Elliot Williams, who sat out for a third-straight game after suffering a knee injury. Laurence Bowers paced the Gryphons with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Patterson School (N.C.) 68, Winchendon (Mass.) 67
In a fast-paced prep school affair, the Patterson School Bulldogs were able to overcome the Winchendon Green Wave, 68-67.
With 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists, Courtney Fortson once again led the way for the Bulldogs. The strong and quick guard showed an uncanny ability to get to the basket, even when faced with 7-2 John Riek clogging the paint.
Larry Anderson was the driving force behind the Winchendon attack. He finished with 29 points. Riek amassed 14 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
Oak Hill Academy (Va.) 73, Mount St. Joseph (Md.) 70
Brandon Jennings' steal with only seconds to play helped seal a 73-70 victory for the Oak Hill Academy Warriors against Mount St. Joseph.
With Oak Hill up 71-70 and less than 30 seconds to play, Jennings missed a short jumper. As Mount St. Joseph grabbed the rebound and sprinted up court for a potential game-winning shot, Jennings stole the ball around half court and raced the other way for a big insurance bucket.
Jennings torched the Gaels' defense for 32 points. His output was equaled by 6-10 center Henry Sims of Mount St. Joseph's 6-10.
Glenn Bryant and Tiny Gallon had 14 and 10 points, respectively, for Oak Hill. Talented sophomore Eric Atkins added 18 points for Mount St. Joseph.
St. Benedict's (N.J.) 75, DeMatha (Md.) 41
St. Benedict's used its extreme height advantage to handle DeMatha with surprising ease, 75-41.
Danny Hurley's Gray Bees, which features three post players 6-8 or taller in Samardo Samuels, Greg Echenique, and Tristan Thompson, out-rebounded the Stags 36-16.
Samuels led the scoring with 22 points. St. Benedict's point guard Tamir Jackson chipped in 20 points.
Marcus Rouse did most of the damage for the Stags, finishing with 10 points.
