(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – The highly-anticipated rubber match between No. 1 Wilson and No. 4 Keystone went the way of the Phoenix in the United East Skye Division semifinals Monday night. Although the Phoenix led for a majority of the game, it was close throughout and saw the hosts pull away from the Giants late in the game.
As a result, the Blue and White will move on to the Skye Division Championship against No. 3 St. Elizabeth on Wednesday.
The Basics
Score: No. 1 Wilson 91, No. 4 Keystone 78
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: No. 1 Wilson 16-10, No. 4 Keystone 11-15
How It Happened
- It took both teams a little while to find some rhythm as they combined to go 2-for-11 in the first four minutes of the game. Eventually the Phoenix hit a hot streak as they made 4-of-5 capped by a Gary Robertson (Sr., Washington, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) 3-pointer to take a 13-9 lead. Each proverbial punch given by the Phoenix, however, was countered by the Giants. A steal and breakaway dunk by Ibraheem Bundu (Sr., Bowie, Md. / Largo / CCBC Dundalk) that sent the standing-room only crowd was immediately answered by a Tyler Fox jumper. A few minutes later a 3-point play on a layup paired with the and-one free throw by Darryl Garib (Sr., Dallas, Texas / Forest Park) to go up nine was answered by a John Brice 3-pointer and a Brandon Scott layup to keep Keystone within four. As a result Wilson ended up taking a 41-37 lead into the locker room at the half.
- An Ethan Wilson (Jr., Manassas, Va. / Osbourn Park) triple opened up the second half for the Phoenix, but again Keystone was able to counter and make its biggest push of the game. The result was a 16-5 run that gave the Giants a 53-49 lead with 13:41 to go in the game. Wilson remained composed and went back-and-forth with the Giants exchanging leads three more times before a pair of Tyrik Ward-Hoyte (Jr., Baltimore, Md. / Phelps) free throws put Wilson in front 56-55 with 10:40 to go.
- The Giants stayed within a possession until Ward-Hoyte, Garib, and Robertson all made inside buckets before a Khalif Dickson (Sr., Hampton, Va. / Prince George / Eastern) sank a trey from the right wing for a 71-63 lead with 5:14 left on the clock. Keystone was able to get back within six after a 3-pointer with 39 seconds left, but the Phoenix were able to go 7-of-8 from the free throw line the rest of the way to help secure the win.
Inside The Numbers
- Ward-Hoyte and Wilson led all players with 22 points each on the night. Ward-Hoyte was nearly perfect as he went 9-of-11 from the field while Wilson made three 3-pointers. Both pulled down six rebounds.
- Garib was a rebound shy of another double-double as he finished with 18 points and nine boards. He was 7-of-14 from the field and added three assists.
- Speaking of assists, Robertson was back in double-figures with 13 points after he went 5-of-9 from the field. He dished out seven helpers as well.
- Defensively Bundu had one of his best games and etched his name even more into the record books with six blocks to set a new single-game program record. He now has 51 for the season which is also a school record for most in a single season.
- Wilson shot 55.0% from the field, its second-best mark of the season, marking the seventh time this season the Phoenix have shot over .500. They have been victorious in all seven games.
- The Giants were led by star player Jack Anderson with 19 points. Scott and Kamdyn Ayers both added 17 points.
- The Giants led the rebounding battle 47-34 largely in part to D'Andre Sutherland who led the game with 16 caroms. Keystone pulled down 22 on the offensive end alone which converted into 16 second chance points.
- Wilson now leads the all-time series 11-2 with the Giants. The Phoenix have taken eight of the last nine meetings, including all three postseason matchups each of the last three years.
Up Next
Wilson will now prepare for another tough opponent in third-seed St. Elizabeth that was a 69-66 winner over No. 2 Bryn Athyn. The Phoenix and Eagles also split the regular season with each team winning on their home court by two points. Round 3 will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. with the winner traveling to the Volt Division Champion for the United East Championship final on Saturday.
