Having placed significant emphasis on weathering runs throughout the year, Scotland Campus overcame a second half scoring binge from Mt. Zion Prep (Md.), remained in attack mode offensively, and was consistently surging into the driving lanes and manufacturing points at the free throw line.
The result was a hard-fought, 88-83 triumph over Mt. Zion during the inaugural Military Circuit at Massanutten Military Academy on Feb. 10. The win enables Scotland to lock up the Great Atlantic Conference (GAC) regular season title.
The No.1 nationally ranked Knights improved to 29-0 on the season. They registered a pair of wins over IMG and Mt. Zion Prep during the first-ever event, one which featured an ensemble of high level prep programs.
Scotland overcame a 40-point eruption from Mount Zion’s Rob Carpenter, a proficient scorer at all three levels.
The Knights were powered by 6-foot-3 guard Clarence Nadolny, who turned in a gritty performance on one of grandest stages the regular season has to offer. A sea of Division-I assistants and head coaches were on hand for Sunday’s event finale.
Boasting a game predicated on hard, high-wired slashing and finishing at/above the rim, Nadolny drilled three consecutive 3-pointers as Scotland built an 11-point lead heading into the half. He sustained this gung-ho nose for the rim in the second, as the French guard wound up with a team-best 22 points.
Karim Coulibaly added 16 points and seven rebounds. Jordon Jones turned in an efficient account of his workmanlike game, pulling in seven rebounds and collecting five steals. DeQuarius Nicholas scored 16 points.
Beyond Carpenter, Mt. Zion received 14 points from La Salle-bound guard Ayinde Hikim.
After being stymied by a stockpile of first half fouls, Mt. Zion staged a valiant second half rally on the backs of Carpenter and Hikim. Carpenter got into the lane for a banker that cut it to two, 50-48, with 13:19 remaining in the second half.
Mount Zion continued to slice away at the deficit as the shifty and cerebral 5-foot-11 Hikim scored on a 3-pointer and then a driving layup in 20 seconds. Scotland’s lead was suddenly whittled down to 62-59 with 8:20 remaining.
Nadolny responded with a traditional 3-point play with 7:47 to go. Nicholas bagged a corner 3-pointer which pushed the lead to 68-59. Carpenter’s finish cut the lead to 68-61 with 6:48 remaining.
After collecting a staggering 14 first half fouls, Mt. Zion was again hampered by foul trouble in the second half. Austin Galuppo and Nicholas went 3-for-4 on consecutive possessions to the foul line as Scotland fended off the second half comeback bid.
Galuppo, the floor-spreading Weber State commit whose timely 3-pointers and pair of four-point plays highlighted the thorough 78-54 slaying of IMG Academy on Saturday, connected on a 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 74-61. Fellow Weber State-commit Judah Jordan then supplied a true dagger, hitting a deep 3-pointer which swelled the lead to 79-64 with 3:07 remaining.
Heading into the 2018-19 campaign, Nadolny was cognizant that an essential aspect of assimilating to the leadership role would involve taking game-altering scoring matters into his own hands.
Longtime and decorated prep head coach Chris Chaney implored the Class of 2019 guard to seize these leadership reins, preaching the importance of playing at different speeds and imposing his will during pressure-spiked moments.
The newfound role of emotional leader and go-to source, as Nadolny understood, would also entail opening up his outside shot and shedding the pigeonhole of “athlete.”
He’s handled such responsibilities multiple times this season, including during a 26-point performance in a win against a hot-shooting Fork Union Military Academy team last month.
Against Mount Zion, Nadolny played possessed. He was able to set a loud tone early, hit momentum-bolstering shots before the half, and simultaneously solidify his high major appeal.
