(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Five players scored in double figures led by a dominating performance by
Antonio Bussey (Sr., Aiken, S.C. / Aiken / Claflin) who scored 20 points as Wilson cruised by Valley Forge 97-44 on Wednesday evening. The Phoenix broke a three-game skid with their highest offensive output of the season.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 97, Valley Forge 44
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 8-8, 2-3 CSAC; Valley Forge 1-12, 0-5 CSAC
How It Happened
- It didn't take long for the Phoenix to get going as Wilson took the opening tip and Rick Godwin Jr. (Sr., Largo, Md. / Largo / Southern Maryland) found Bussey for a thunderous dunk just 14 seconds into the contest. It was a sign of things to come as Bussey ended up having a huge night.
- After a 3-pointer by Godwin and a layup by Darryl Garib (Sr., Dallas, Texas / Forest Park), it was Jordan Miles' (Sr., Waldorf, Md. / Westlake) turn to fire up the offense and he did so with three consecutive treys. He was able to do so without Valley Forge taking a single shot as he and Bussey both stole the ball away from the Patriots which led the bonus bombs to make the score 16-2 just over four minutes into the contest.
- The Patriots cut the deficit to 10, but couldn't get any closer as Wilson was just too much. A bucket by Jeremiah Carter-Johnson (Sr., Richmond, Va. / Mills E. Godwin) put Wilson up 30 with 59 seconds left in the half and led 48-21 at the break.
- The second half was more of the same as the Phoenix featured a balanced attack and suffocating defense. Wilson led by as many as 58 after a triple by Carter-Johnson before the final score was set.
Inside The Numbers
- Bussey finished with 20 points and was nearly unstoppable as he went 10-for-13 from the field. Three of his buckets were dunks, including a thunderous slam that followed after he stole the ball at mid-court and coasted in uncontested.
- It's the second time Bussey has scored 20 points this season, the most for him this year.
- Miles added 14 for the Phoenix with 11 scored in an impressive first half in which he led the team. The bulk of them came from behind the arc where he was 4-for-8.
- Garib finished with 13 points and led the team with nine rebounds.
- Gary Robertson (Jr., Washington D.C. / Potomac / Bryant and Stratton) was the court general of the night and scored 11 points while dishing out a game-high eight assists. Carter-Johnson joined him with 11 points as well.
- Wilson set numerous season-best marks in multiple categories in tonight's win. Overall the Phoenix made 38 field goals and shot 60.3% for a couple of new bests. They also had 25 assists to break their previous best by two. Eleven 3-pointers also set a new high for the year while 11 steals defensively equals the season-best set three times previously.
- On the glass it was also no contest as Wilson led Valley Forge 41-23 in rebounds. Scoring in the paint coincided as the Phoenix led the Patriots 52-12 with points inside.
- Bussey is 26-for-34 in his last three games for a shooting percentage of 76.5%.
- The margin of victory is Wilson's largest since defeating Clarks Summit at home last season by the exact same score.
Up Next
Wilson will look to make two in a row as they hit the road this Saturday to take on Clarks Summit. Tip-off with the Defenders is set for 5 p.m. following the women's basketball game also at Clarks Summit.
