RICHMOND − Rebounding, the usual pressure defense – it was all there. But no matter what it tried, Charlottesville could not snap out of a shooting funk. The 3-pointers, easy layups, even the tip-ins – nothing would go through the net until the fourth quarter. And after withstanding a late rally, Region I champion Brunswick was able to take down a young Black Knights squad in the Group AA Division 3 quarterfinals at the Siegel Center in Richmond, 66-49.
“That’s a gutsy win by our team,” said Bulldogs coach and former Virginia star Bryant Stith. “Once we were able to force the tempo and force the pace, that allowed the defense to be extended and allowed (Casey Walker) to get some open looks and easy baskets.”
After a tightly-contested first quarter in which both teams pushed the ball up and down the court, Brunswick created some separation in the opening of the second quarter by breaking a tie with a quick 5-0 run.
But from that point on, Charlottesville simply could not get anything to fall in, as routine layups consistently rolled off the rim and middle and long range shots kicked out.
“You can’t miss those layups and expect to be in the game,” said Charlottesville coach Mitch Minor. “I think if we hit those this might have been a different kind of game.”
Outside of Jackson, Black Knights shooters struggled to find their rhythm, hitting just six of their first 33 shots.
“I don’t know if it was nerves or what,” Minor said. “But I think the difference particularly in the first half was that we had many opportunities for easy shots and just didn’t make them.”
Maurice Jackson accounted for 15 of the team’s 22 first half points. But the Bulldogs hit a bit of a cold stretch themselves, and what felt like a 20 point lead was actually just 10 at the half.
Brunswick was able to inflate the gap to 16 points and maintain the healthy lead for the first 12 minutes of the second half. But behind a handful of forced turnovers, Charlottesville trimmed the deficit to six points with a little over three minutes to play.
But the Bulldogs pulled it back together, getting back out in front by double digits, getting past the Black Knight press for layups while also hitting their free throws down the stretch.
Brunswick’s Walker led all scorers with 31 points, while Shaquille Jones and DeVone Dugger came up with 16 and 13 respectively. Walker also led the Bulldogs with 11 rebounds while Dugger contributed nine.
Jackson was busy in his last high school game, scoring 27 points to account for more than half of Charlottesville’s offense. He also led his team on the glass with 10 boards.
The senior is just one of three on the Black Knights roster along with Alex Thurston and Damien Morton and has greatly enjoyed his time on the court.
“I loved playing with (Kevin Leatherwood and Omari Minor) and being their right hand man,” Jackson said. “I had to be a team leader this year and I didn’t know how to do it early on because Omari and Kevin were my leaders (for so long).”
He also had a parting message for his sophomore laden team.
“They just need to keep their heads up,” Jackson said. “It was a tough day and everyone was scared when they saw the crowd and started saying ‘I’m nervous.’ I told them to keep their heads and let’s ball and just have fun. I’ll give them credit, that’s what they did.”
Junior Devin Turner put in eight points. Rickquan Jones and Daquan Jones combined for eight points and 17 rebounds.
