South 48 , Africentric 42 - Prospect Scouting Report

Bulldogs grind out defensive battle with Nubians

COLUMBUS, Ohio - - After a slow start to the game, South High School (10-3, 8-0) chipped away at the lead over the next three quarters and finished the game in resounding fashion, staying unbeaten in the south division after their 48-42 win over a game Africentric (7-8, 4-5) team that gave the Bulldogs all they could handle.

The Nubians came out like a house of fire, with senior Cortez Freeman leading the way with six points and two steals in the opening eight minutes of action. Africentric’s 2-3 zone also took some time for South to adjust to, as the Nubians used it to cause turnovers and numerous missed shots that got them easy buckets in transition.

Bulldog senior LaJames Washington was the only player on South to notch a point, hitting a pair of free throws and a layup as his team trailed heading into the second quarter, 13-4.

Grit and grind was on display from the south division-leading Bulldogs in the second quarter, turning up the defensive pressure and allowing six total points to the Nubians while their offense began to find its way. It started with a bang as junior Chris Cooper-Patton hit sophomore Josh Smith for a rim rocking alley-oop that brought the crowd to their feet. It was tough sailing after that, as South began to find the basket as Marquan Felts-Lipsey sparked the offense and Maurice McCall owned the offensive glass.

Africentric junior Chris Cooper-Patton kept the Nubians at a distance with his set of free throws to send the home team into the locker room with a 19-14 lead.

South began to seize control in the second half, starting with a 9-3 run to start the third quarter, with a split at the free throw line from McCall putting the Bulldogs in front 23-22 for their first lead of the game. Coach Spears’ team continued to dominate the glass and get good shots on offense to carry a 30-27 lead into the final frame.

Another Bulldog senior, Chris Stokes, put his finger print all over the start of the fourth quarter, scoring the first seven points for his team. The Nubians stayed on their heels though, with Freeman and sophomore Kamaree Wilkinson scoring before a Cooper-Patton three-pointer sort of quelled the Stokes command of the early fourth, but Africentric trailed by three midway through the final quarter.

As South held on to a two-point lead with 21 seconds left, Felts-Lipsey was called for a travel and gave Africentric a chance to either tie or take the lead.

Senior leader Maurice McCall had other plans, getting a steal on the inbounds pass to basically ice the game. A slam from Carmelo McDonald put an exclamation point on the 48-42 win for South.

The south division leading Bulldogs are back in action on Thursday at Eastmoor Academy and Africentric takes the court on Friday at Independence.

Let’s take a look at the players who excelled on Tuesday.