Upper Marlboro , MD - Dematha defeated Gonzaga in
a classic , Edmonson managed to win the Baltimore
championship despite giving up 45pts to Josh Selby
and yesterday Sed Baker hit the game winning shot
giving Oxon Hill the PG County championship win as
time expired. All three games were decided by a
total of 7pts that we have been to this week ,
classic after classic and it's only Wedneday.
And as good as all of the games have been , last
night's contest between Oxon Hill and Gwynn Park was
simply amazing.
Gwynn Park led by Brandon Ford(19pts) and Tion
Barnes(18pts) , both juniors , held the lead for the
majority of the game. The heartbreaking statistic is
the fat that the Yellow Jackets were up 71-61 with
less than three minutes in the contest before the
Clippers scored 12 of the game's final 13pts. Mike
Helmsley split a pair of free throws with 15 secs
giving Oxon Hill the chance to tie or win the game.
The play was drawn up for senior guard Ray Gatling
(26pts) who saw a vicious double-team , senior guard
Sed Baker got freed up , drove the lane and threw up
a running floater that banked clean off the glass
and through the net as time expired.
Two of the Rarest Shots in one game - It's
not often that you have a game winning shot , but
what's even more unlikely is a game winner and a
full court buzzer beater in the same game. This is
exactly what happened , Tion Barnes ended the 1st
quarter launching a prayer from the opposite 3pt
line , that sent 2,000+ at Wise HS into an early
frenzy.Ray Gatling & Sed Baker - Gatling
managed 26pts most of which came in the 2nd half
despite Gwynn Park's box and 1 defense. Gatling is
much improved and showed why he is gaining All-Met
consideration. Baker scores in bunches , this kid
played his heart out , nealry passed out in the team
photo shoot afterwards after a heroic night for the
5'6" guard.
Brandon Ford & Tion Barnes - These two
juniors are special , and had the game won with
better execuation down the stretch. Barnes is
athletic as anyone in the DMV and Ford can score the
basketball. These two juniors impressed me with
their play , and will be a terrible force to reckon
with in the playoffs and for the PG conference as
seniors next season.
