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Tri State Report
 

Gonzaga vs PVI
   
        
Fairfax, VA

Derrell Bouknight @djbouk
Contributor  

 

The game that everyone's been waiting for since the summer, Gonzaga vs. PVI, finally arrived last night to a packed Panther gym in Fairfax, Virginia, and it didn't disappoint at all. A top 25 match up to kick off the WCAC season was a great prelude to the week of basketball that will be taking place in the DMV. With all eyes on highly-ranked and prominent Sophomores Bryant Crawford (Gonzaga), Frank Howard, and Marcus Dickerson (PVI), this game proved to be one to look forward to not only for this season, but for the rest of their high school careers. With Gonzaga's 6'6 Senior F Kris Jenkins sitting out the game due to a one game suspension, Crawford knew immediately that he had to step up and strive to be a leader. He had his way in the game, along with a few other bright spots for the Eagles (2-0), who held on to win 86-79 in front of coaches from Indiana, Virginia, Virginia Tech, SMU, Longwood, George Mason, Maryland and Morgan State to name a few.

  

 

In a gym that was packed with fans cheering loudly for the home team, PVI came out wanting to set the tone early in Jenkins' absence, going up 5-0 on Gonzaga. Eagles G Charles Glover halted their run with a quick three pointer that temporarily silenced the home crowd, followed by a series of back and forth buckets between the two teams that had fans on the edge of their seats just as the game began. Miscues on both sides had coaches screaming for change, screaming so loud that Gonzaga Head Coach Steve Turner nearly lost his voice by the conclusion of the game. After the first quarter of play, Gonzaga trailed PVI by two points, 20-18, heading into the second quarter, where the much anticipated play of Crawford, Howard and Dickerson-who struggled on the offensive end-became a factor. The quarter started off with a bang, as Gonzaga Senior sharpshooter Matt Jackson hit several consecutive jump shots to put the Eagles back out on top, just in time for Bryant to go to work. Fast break layups, defensive awareness, and a Steve Nash like assist to the high flying 6'7 Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof for a huge slam set the tone for the Eagles. Perhaps Crawford's best play all night was a chase down block that looked like an easy bucket for PVI with three minutes left in the second quarter, and from there, the Eagles never looked back. Panther's G Frank Howard caught fire by hitting a couple of perimeter shots to cut the Gonzaga lead to 38-33 at the half.   

 

The second half was highlighted by the nail-biting offense witnessed early on in the first quarter. Gonzaga's Tavon Blackmon went on a roll, finishing with a game high 18 points. Behind his offense the defensive activity of Junior Bradley Jacks and Bryant Crawford, Gonzaga took a 7 point lead into the final 8 minutes of the game. Marcus Dickerson got on track, scoring a few fourth quarter buckets for the Panthers, who stormed back to cut the deficit to just one point with just under a minute remaining in the ballgame, reiterating a similar outcome in last year's 88-85 overtime win for PVI. After a few free throws by Matt Jackson, Gonzaga took a 3 point lead with 15 seconds left. PVI put the game in Frank Howard's hands to win it for them, but as the clock ran down, he dribbled the ball off his foot and out of bounds, giving the Eagles the ball and converted free throws to seal the deal to ruin PVI's season opener. The bright spot for Gonzaga was without a doubt Crawford, who showed that he can do everything on both ends of the court, saying that "he felt the need to," and that he has to "step up and be a leader for his team this year." Asked if he was nervous at the end, he said he was, but in the end, they won the game, which matters the most.  
 

 

Some of the standouts from last nights action: 

 

   

Franklin Howard 

Franklin Howard- 6'4- 2015

 

  

 

During the game Franklin had a drive where I thought he was gonna bring the house down and kill all of Gonzaga's momentum but at the last minute decided to lay the ball up. That move showed his youth but it also showed that you better enjoy those little mishaps now. One of the nicest jumpers that I seen in a while and his first step is sick. A versatile guard who can play the 1 or 2, sees the floor well but he is a flat out scorer.  

 

 

 

Gonzaga Clips vs PVI 
Gonzaga Clips vs PVI

    


Marcus Derrickson- 6'7-2015
Marcus Derrickson
 
       


What can you do when someone stands as tall and is as big as Marcus Derrickson with cat like quickness?  Not much except enjoy the show. The versatility that this young man displays is scary especially since he has three years of high school to continue working on his game. I love the fact that he kept defenders guessing all night and if Paul VI would have kept feeding him the ball it might have been a different outcome. Gonzaga had no one that could guard him one on one. He has a nice post game with gloves for hands and when he knocks down the 10-12 foot jumper with consistency the young man will be unstoppable. The clear cut top big man from the DMV for the 2015 class.



 

Bryant Crawford- 6'2- 2015
                                      
Bryant Crawford

 

It has been a minute since I have seen Bryant play and to watch him do what he did last night was something special. Missing a whole year and to have the leading scorer sidelined on top of playing against a couple of guys that know your game would have most folks in shambles. Besides all of the physical gifts that he possesses his biggest attribute last night was his coaching. He did a great job of talking to everyone, it did not matter the situation and he made sure that he had your attention to deliver the message.   

 

   

 

 

 

Derek A. McKeiver, Sr.

Director

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