Ray Parks slow down in scoring.
Maybe coach used his veterans more.
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Gryphons go 11-0 for the first time in school history. Watch St. George's extend their home winning streak to 27 games on Thursday evening vs CBHS.
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Gryphons too much for Rebels
ST. George's 82, TRA 50
By David Healy (Contact)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Tipton-Rosemark Academy boys basketball coach Dan Martin came out on Tuesday night fired up. With every good play, he applauded. When things went wrong, he groaned.
Martin was even whistled for a technical foul in the first quarter after disputing a call.
But as the game wore on, Martin gradually settled down as it became evident that his team was no match for visiting St. George's as the Gryphons coasted to an 82-50 victory.
"I thought we were ready to play but they are a great team with a lot of great players," Martin said. "But we will be ready next time."
In a match-up of two teams still undefeated in Division 2 Small, the Gryphons (11-0, 8-0) showed why they are considered by most as the class of the division as they jumped out to an 11-point lead at the end of the first quarter and cruised the rest of the way.
While the game turned into a runaway, senior Duke signee Elliot Williams put on a show in the second half. Plagued by foul trouble, Williams was held to just six points in the first two quarters, but he came out in the third quarter and cooly and calmly drained four consecutive 3-pointers before he was taken out for the rest of the game with an 20-point total.
"I think he played a little tentative in the first half, but once the game got going and it was time to make some plays offensively, he stepped up," St. George's coach Jeff Ruffin said. "He has the ability to take his game to another level.
TRA's big gun, Bolton transfer Jacob Arnett, did his best to keep the Rebels (11-4, 5-1) in the game as he finished with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, but Ruffin said he was pleased that his players did their best to make most of Arnett's points difficult. With seconds left in the first quarter, Arnett even made a 3-pointer from 5 feet behind the arc to lift his team's hopes.
"He's a great player and a great shooter and you have to do a lot to guard him," Ruffin said. "I thought we did about as good as we could do."
The Gryphons' other standout, Missouri signee Laurence Bowers, also demonstrated his size and talent on Tuesday as he finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. St. George's junior Allen Bobango also contributed 10 points while senior Ben Popeck scored 11.
"They had a great crowd here tonight, and I know they were ready to play, but we came out tonight and responded," Ruffin said.
GAME 11: ST. GEORGE'S VS TRA
St. George's (82) — Allen Bobango 10, Laurence Bowers 15, Blake Deaton 2, Eric Folk 4, Blake Hirschman 7, Ray Parks 2, Ben Popeck 11, Jonathan Smith 3, Elliot Williams 20, Trey Greenwell 3, Forbes Harris 5.
Tipton-Rosemark Aca. (50) — Jacob Arnett 24, Stephen Biggs 2, Taylor Fox 5, Michael Gordon 2, Justin Hebner 2, Trey Richardson 2, Jordan Santmyer 13.
St. George's 26 20 25 11—82 Tipton-Rosemark Aca. 14 7 13 16—50
Records — Tipton-Rosemark Aca. 11-4 (5-1 , Divison). St. George's 12-0 (10-0