Gar-Field 72, Granby 47
In the first semi-final of the day Gar-Field used a 23-0 explosion to take out Granby 72-47
and advance to the AAA State Championship game. The two teams battled through the first
half with Granby leading 21-20 at the break. With 6 minutes left in the third and the score tied
25-25 Gar-Field made their move. Akeem Scott converted a steal into a 3 point play putting
the Indians up 5, 30-25. On the Indians next posession Q.J. Melchior had the ball up top.
He dribbled letting the play develop and then hit a high flying David Hooper who was coming off
a back screen. Hooper finished the alley-oop with a thunderous dunk that put Gar-Field up
32-25 with 5:40 left in the 3rd and seemed to energize the Indians. With 2:30 left in the quarter Scott picked off another pass, took it
the distance and got fouled. The free throw made the score 39-25. Just one minute later Scott
with yet another steal took off down the court. His lay-up try was no good but Melchior had his back
and layed in the rebound extending the lead to 43-25.
Mechoir would add to the score when he took the
ball the length of the floor, went behind his back then ducked under a defender laying it off the glass while getting
fouled. The free-throw pushed the lead to 46-25 . Two Scott free throws ended the scoring spree with the score 48-25.
During the 23-0 spurt Scott had 10 points and 5 steals. Melchior scored 5 points and dished out 3 assists.
Hooper had 7 points including a 3 pointer and a monser alley-oop.
After outscoring the Comets 32-9 in the third quarter the Indians held on to their big lead in the
fourth and took down the defending AAA State Champion Granby Comets. Akeem Scott
led all scorers with 21 points and added 7 steals. Q.J. Melchior scored 11 points, grabbed 7 rebounds
and dished out 7 assists. Dennis Hooper had 17 points to chip in to the Indian cause.
Gar-Field will face Salem on Saturday at 1:00 in the Championship game.
Video Highlights:
Garfied's Akeem Scott
Garfield's David Hooper
Garfield's Akeem Scott
Garfield's Kevin Hunter
Garfield's Akeem Scott
Garfield's Akeem Scott
Garfield's Akeem Scott
Granby's Calvin Smith
Salem 58, T.C. Williams 54
Salem got 16 points a piece from Antonio Johnson and John Gilchrist as
they advance to the VHSL AAA State Championship game with a 58-54 win over
T.C. Williams. Johnson had 9 points in a pivotal 18-4 run in the second half. The win improves
Salem to 28-1 on the season. Their only loss was to the #1 ranked team in the nation Oak Hill
Academy.
As the first half wound down it looked as if they may be on their way to loss number 2.
With the score tied at 20 and two minutes left in the half T.C. Williams point guard Alton Fortner (13 points, 5 assists)
scored on 3 consecutive trips. All three came on fantastic drives to the hoop in which he made
everyone on the court seem like they were in slow motion. Fortner's late flurry gave T.C. a
26-21 half-time lead.
By the midway point of the third quarter T.C. was leading 35-28 and looked to be in solid control.
Then Antonio Johnson happened. Antonio rolled off a three pointer and knocked down 2 driving lay-ups as part of a 9-0 spurt that pushed Salem out in front.
The game was all tied up at 37 as the game entered the final quarter.
Down 41-39 T.C. had the ball and was looking to score and tie it back up. But all everything guards
John Gilchrist and Johnson had other plans. Gilchrist blocked a T.C. three point attempt and
made a great save throwing it right into the arms of his backcourt mate. Johnson took it the length
of the floor, went between his legs and converted the sweet lay-up. The bucket gave Salem a 4 point
lead but the dramatic fashion with which it happened seemed to fuel the crowd and the Salem players.
Jacoby Key rebounded a Johnson miss with 3:15 left and layed it in to push the Salem lead to 46-39.
Salem kept the lead around 7 points by knocking down their free throws. With 1:00 left and a 52-45 lead
Antonio Johnson stripped the ball from T.C. and was fouled. Johnson's ensuing free throws sealed the deal pushing the lead to 9.
Salem and their dynamic duo of guards will face Gar-Field on Saturday at 1:00 in the VHSL AAA Championship game.
Video Highlights:
Salem's John Gilchrist
Salem's Antonio Johnson
Salem's Jacoby Key
Salem's Zohn Burden
Salem's Jacoby Key
Salem's Zohn Burden
Salem's Paul Johnson
T.C. Williams' Alton Fortner
T.C. Williams' Darian Townes
T.C. Williams' Alton Fortner
T.C. Williams' Marcus Lynn
