With their mental toughness put to a critical test following an anemic loss to Woodrow Wilson High School on Thursday, Scotland Campus High School recovered to stamp a redeeming 88-63 defeat on tournament host St. James in Hagerstown, Md. Friday night.
Gerald Jarmon and Johannes Kirsipuu each submitted 20 points and Class of 2020 forward Louis Bleechmore added 14 points and eight rebounds. Class of 2019 guard Will Scatchard popped off the bench to score 11 points in 17 minutes, providing a necessary jolt with a trio of 3-pointers.
Oftentimes, a string of fluid offensive possessions has the ability to bring about an abundance of defensive energy.
There’s no denying the psychological lift the game can bring when spurts of sustainable quality possessions emerge. The focus tends to suddenly shift to the other side of the floor, with everyone soon becoming more adequately engaged.
That’s precisely what occurred for Scotland during the third quarter against St. James. Bleechmore scored on a pair of hard surges to the rim, Kirsipuu and Jarmon each bagged a pair of 3-pointers. Just like that, the quickly gained momentum suddenly unearthed a wave of hazardous, swarming pressure.
The hosts withered under the weight of the press, as Kayden Stewart‘s strip and fast break finish built a 16-point lead. This sequence allowed Scotland to break it open during the third quarter.
Scotland shot 12-for-19 (63 percent) during this game-altering quarter, overcoming a woeful first (6-for-17 FG) and second quarter (4-for-14 FG). The Knights authored efficiency from the free throw line, where they shot 19-for-26.
Fueled by 3-point shooting from Jarmon (5-for-11 3FG) and Kirsipuu (4-for-9 3FG), Scotland was able to push the lead to 30 points during a wild second half.
Xavier Long led St. James School with 21 points (8-for-12 FG) and nine rebounds. Berke Sertcan and Bagarus Tripp each added 11 points.
After putting up 75 points during a win over Mercersburg Prep earlier in the week, the Knights never found the right looks or made the right reads during the Wilson loss.
As a result, any semblance of competitive flames dwindled rapidly against a formidable foe. Scotland would only discover spurts of offensive production while staring down at an insurmountable 25-point deficit during the second half.
During an emotional post game speech, the Scotland program’s collective coaching staff preached the importance of playing with a passion and an edge between the ears.
The staff touched on how a game of such massive magnitude, a barometer in a historic and tradition-heavy tournament of this type, should have given way to ramped up energy levels throughout.
SCS head coach Blake Kingsley waxed poetic about the value of time management and the race against time during these final two months of the season, as players seek scholarship opportunities and prepare to continue their careers at the collegiate level.
He was pleased with the way the players responded in Thursday’s throttling.
It wouldn’t take long for an outsider looking in to grasp the storied history of the St. James Invitational Tournament.
Perusing through the tournament program, one will quickly discover former household NBA names such as Jerry Stackhouse and Dennis Scott as MVP performers in the past.
