(BRYN ATHYN, Pa.) – The season came to an end as No. 8 Wilson fell to top seed Bryn Athyn in the quarterfinals of the United East Championship on Saturday afternoon. The Phoenix nearly pulled off an incredible comeback as they trailed the Lions by as many as 16 and made it a four-point game with four minutes left. Bryn Athyn was able to stave off the rally, however, and pull away down the stretch.
The Basics
Score: No. 8 Wilson 63, No. 1 Bryn Athyn 73
Venue: Asplundh Field House
Records: Wilson 12-15, Bryn Athyn 18-8
How It Happened
- Jalen Pierce (Jr., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate / Millersville) scored a pair of early layups and Nirobi Peeler Jr. (Jr., Largo, Fla. / Clearwater / Millersville) drilled a 3-point to get the Phoenix out to a hot start in the opening minutes of the game. The Lions quickly answered by going on a 19-2 run to take control of the game. The Blue and White made a late first half charge with a 9-0 run to tie the game. Gary Robertson (Gr., Washington, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) and Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King Prep / Bryant & Stratton) were the catalysts and set the push in motion. Robertson started it with a layup with was followed by a triple from Jones. After a steal by Peeler Jr. led to a Robertson layup, Jones made a steal himself and tied the game with 80 seconds before halftime. The Lions were able to get the last word and took a 35-33 lead into the locker rooms.
- The Phoenix went cold at the beginning of the second and the Lions were able to take advantage by pushing its lead up to 16 with an 18-4 run to make the score 53-37 with 13:36 left in regulation. Wilson was able to respond nicely and eventually cut the deficit down back down to single digits after a Peeler Jr. trey made it 59-51 with 7:48 to go. Robertson made it a two-possession the next trip down the floor. A few minutes later Raford made it 64-60 with 4:03 remaining.
- Unfortunately, that was the closest Wilson could get. Bryn Athyn went to the foul line five times the rest of the way and made 7-of-10 attempts during those trips as time ran out.
Inside The Numbers
- Jones had an excellent game where he scored 16 points, pulled down eight rebounds, dished out six assists, and made four steals to lead the team in all categories.
- Robertson concluded his Phoenix career with a solid 15-point day where he was 7-for-15 from the field. He goes down in fourth place on the all-time scoring list in program history with 1,026 points wearing the Wilson Blue and White.
- Peeler Jr. joined Robertson and Jones in double-figures with 11 points. Nine of them were from 3-point range.
- Bryn Athyn was paced by Jakir Hampton who poured in 26 points and was 10-for-17 from the field. Jalen Parker added a double-double on 14 points and 15 boards.
