(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – A double-double by
Darren Green (Jr., Silver Spring, Md. / Springbrook) and a 22-point night by
Ethan Wilson (Jr., Manassas, Va. / Osbourn Park / Howard C.C.) helped the Wilson men's basketball team defeat visiting Cairn on Monday evening. It wasn't an easy task by any means as the Highlanders featured two of the top four leading scorers in the United East in Alberto Aytor and Derian Bradford, but the Phoenix held the duo to 19 points below their combined average.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 71, Cairn 56
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 12-10, 10-3 Skye; Cairn 13-9, 7-6 Skye
How It Happened
- After back-and-forth action that witnessed six lead changes and four ties in the opening seven minutes, the Phoenix started to create some separation as an Ethan Wilson scored seven-straight points in an 11-0 run to give the Blue and White a 28-18 lead. A layup sparked the rally and was followed by a 3-pointer on a dish from Gary Robertson (Sr., Washington, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) before a pair of free throws made the score 24-18 just under the eight minute mark.
- A layup by Owen Bradford and a trey by Josh Forger gave the Highlanders some new life, but Jordan Miles (Sr., Waldorf, Md. / Westlake) answered with a triple of his own and another bonus bomb from Ethan Wilson helped give Wilson a 39-30 lead at the break.
- The Phoenix were able to get stronger in the second half and used an 18-6 run to take their largest lead of the game. Trea Keys (Jr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake / Howard C.C.) opened the push with a 3-pointer on an assist from Wilson and was quickly followed by a Green jumper after Robertson takeaway. Khalif Dickson (Sr., Hampton, Va. / Prince George / Eastern) added a triple to make the score 49-36, while Green capped the run with a pair of free throws after layups from himself, Ethan Wilson, and Keys.
- Cairn made one final push and was able to cut the deficit back to single digits after a Forker layup made the score 63-54 with 2:06 left in regulation. Ethan Wilson was able to help end the comeback threat as he got an offensive rebound after his own miss and answered with a trey later in the possession. The Highlanders weren't able to get any closer the rest of the way.
Inside The Numbers
- Green had a complete game for his first double-double of the season that consisted of 16 points and 12 rebounds. He was 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-5 when called upon at the charity stripe.
- Ethan Wilson hit the 20-point plateau for the fourth time this season with a game-high 22 points. He was 7-of-16 from the field with a 4-of-9 clip from behind the arc. He was busy on the glass as well with seven rebounds.
- Keys had another strong night as he hit double-figures for the second-straight game and third time this season with 11 points. He was 5-of-11 from the field with a 3-pointer and managed to pull down six rebounds as well.
- Wilson had a healthy 43-31 edge on the glass with 13 offensive rebounds that translated into 12 second-chance points.
- The Phoenix bench provided critical depth as the Blue and White reserves outscored those of the Highlanders by a 40-6 count.
- The 56 points scored are the lowest in a single game by the Highlanders this season.
- Wilson has now won five of the last six meetings with the Highlanders, including the last four in Chambersburg. The two will face each other once again this Saturday with Wilson heading to Cairn.
For The Highlanders
- Cairn featured a quartet of players in double-figures with Forker leading the way for the visitors with 14 points.
- Owen Bradford was a rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points.
- Alberto dropped in a dozen while Derian Bradford scored 11 for Cairn. The duo had been averaging 21.6 and 20.5 points, respectively, per game this season.
Up Next
With the win, Wilson has now won three consecutive games and is now 1.5 games behind Bryn Athyn for first place in the Skye Division. The two will battle it out for the second time this year on Wednesday as the Phoenix head on the road. Both teams have already clinched a spot in the United East Championship tournament, but the result will have major implications for how the brackets are set.
