Jayson Woodrich fired in three consecutive 3-pointers, the uproarious standing room only crowd at Scotland Campus growing louder with each one, to start off a sizzling second half scoring surge. The Patrick School (NJ)’s perimeter offense, which kept within striking distance up until the last seven minutes of the second half, sputtered under the considerable depth of the Knights.
Iowa-State commit Darlinstone Dubar, the most poised player on the court in a game which saw plenty of heated exchanges and emotional outbursts and flaring tempers, turned in an efficient account of himself and his scoring prowess.
The ultimate result was Scotland Campus’ 101-69 pounding of the visitors, as the depth-boasting Knights rolled to a convincing GAC conference championship on Thursday night. With the 2020 conference championship, the Knights will head into the Prep National Championships in Connecticut teeming with confidence.
After fending off of a commendable upset bid from a blistering hot-shooting Perkiomen Prep team during an 88-84 semifinal victory, Scotland utilized its strength in numbers and a perimeter assault piloted by Woodrich (who scored a game-best 22 points) to throttle the TPS. Beyond the 6-foot-7 Woodrich, Dubar scored 17 points.
The Patrick School was led by Terrence Jones, who scored a team-best 16 points. Jones, a Class of 2020 guard, scored 23 points and dished out five assists during The Patrick School’s come from behind win over Mount Zion (MD.) in the GAC semifinal.
Jaeden Zackery, Scotland’s 6-foot-3 point guard, kick-started the Knights’ first half offensive surge. Zackery hit a 3-pointer, created space for a pair of jumpers, and finished a traditional 3-point play en route to 13 first half points.
Despite an impressive early start, The Patrick School lost their composure with a technical foul that triggered a 10-0 Scotland run. Before the half, TPS drew another technical foul as Scotland built a 51-27 halftime lead. Beyond Woodrich, Scotland saw a flurry of shooters pad the lead. Terrell Strickland, Clarion-commit Gerald Jarmon, and Dee Merriweather (11 points, 3-for-5 3FG) all hit pivotal 3-pointers as the Knights’ momentum compounded in the second half.
The gym erupted in a frenzy when 6-foot-9 Mohammed Wague found an open lane, seized the hang time and crunched home an extravagant one-handed dunk in the game’s waning moments. Dubar showed his all-around scoring aptitude by reeling off points inside and outside and finishing through contact.
“We knew coming into the game it was going to start with our defense for all 40 minutes of the game as well as use our transition offense and quickness to our advantage as we know how to,” said Zackery, who recently received an offer from Coppin State. “We just came out with a chip on our shoulder and determined to show how we can play our game and that’s what we did.”
The defensive tone, set by guard Norrance Tres Berry, was instrumental in the lockdown operation that forced TPS into off-balanced shots and a sheer offensive fetal position until late in the second half. That’s when Scotland took off in its transition game, capitalizing on fast break opportunities created by a pesky and swarming defense. Last time the two teams met, Scotland thrived in the points with a 32-point, 22-rebound game by Abou Ousmane. This time, the scoring was spread out and the infectious energy created a lopsided lead.
“It’s a really good experience being (GAC conference champions) and accomplishing a goal like this,” Zackery said. “It has really helped me as a leader because most things will start with me (at the point guard position). So, if I come out with an edge then everybody will and we will just feed off it.”
Scotland Campus head coach Chris Chaney attributed the blowout victory to a tuned up focus following the Perkiomen win.
“We were focused for the championship game much better than the semifinals,” Chaney explained. “No excuses. That was our coaching staff’s fault and that begins with me. We learn from each game and try to improve ourselves as individuals and as a team. But to finish strong at home against a really good Patrick School team, that says we got better the next day. Lesson learned.”
