The varsity boys basketball team competed in two tournaments over the holiday break, the Peach State Classic which began December 18 and the Lake City Classic which began December 28. Here are recaps of both tournaments.
Peach State Classic
Whitefield won the opening game against North Clayton, 87-80. The top performers were Brendon Myles with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals; Isaiah Hart with 24 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals; and Tyson Jackson with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block.
The WolfPack played a tough game the second day against Southwest Dekalb which ultimately ended in a 53-52 win that sent Whitefield to the championship round.
During the first quarter, Malik Jones had a successful jumper 6-6 with 5:45 left in the quarter. Tyson followed Malik’s example bringing the score to 12-8 with 3:35 in the quarter; the first quarter ended with Southwest Dekalb leading by one point.
In the second quarter, Brendon made a successful shot with 5:25 left on the clock. With three minutes left to go, Jimmy McCarthy’s lay-up slimmed Southwest Dekalb’s lead bringing the score to Whitefield 17, Southwest Dekalb 20. The second quarter ended with Southwest Dekalb in the lead by ten points.
The third quarter was another hard fought battle for the WolfPack. At the 5:10 mark, Southwest Dekalb was up 17 points. Isaiah scored a three-pointer, putting the WolfPack within 10 points of Southwest Dekalb, with a score of Whitefield 26, Southwest Dekalb 36. Hart had a jumper from the top of the arch ending the third quarter with a score of Whitefield 30, Southwest Dekalb 38.
The fourth quarter proved to be the most exciting of the game. The score at the 7:02 mark was Whitefield 30, Southwest Dekalb 43. A three-pointer by Brendon, and lay-ups by both Jimmy and Tyson brought the score closer, with Whitefield at 40, and Southwest Dekalb at 47 and four minutes left to go. Continuing the fight, Brendon made a three-pointer and Malik scored a lay-up and brought the score to WolfPack 45, Southwest Dekalb 47. Tyson tied the game 47-47 with a basket and 1:09 on the clock. Tensions were high as Brendon made 1 of 2 free throws giving the WolfPack the lead. Tyson made a lay-up giving the WolfPack a stronger lead of 50-47. Southwest Dekalb fought hard to take the lead with 10 seconds left in the game but Brendon dribbled the ball up on the left side of the court, avoided a defender, and made a basket securing the 53-52 win and qualifying the Pack for the championship game. Whitefield fell to Therrell High School 59-67 in the championship game.
Lake City Classic
The WolfPack started the Lake City Classic against Kell High School and lost the game - Whitefield 53, Kell 59.
Next the team defeated Cobb Christian 47-30. At the start of the North Cobb game, Jimmy’s lay-up tied the game at 2-2. Noah Dryden’s floater in traffic and Malik’s lay-up put Whitefield up 6-2. Brendon made a lay-up and three-pointer which pushed the lead to 13-7 with 2:20 remaining in the quarter. Jimmy made two free throws bringing the score to Whitefield 15, North Cobb 9 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was off to a great start with Isaiah’s 2-2 free throw with 4:50 remaining in the quarter which made the score 17-12. Isaiah made a fast break lay-up, which continued Whitefield’s lead, 17-12. His 1-2 free throw at the close of the quarter widened the gap even more, ending the second quarter Whitefield 23, North Cobb 15.
Whitefield continued the third quarter with a six-point lead. Jimmy made a basket and Brendon made a three-pointer bringing the WolfPack lead to 32-15. Tyson’s jumper from the free throw ended the third quarter with a score of 38-27 lead.
The fourth quarter began with a three-pointer by Isaiah. Brendon converted 2-2 free throws. Tyson made a final jump shot for the team and Whitefield ended the game victorious with a final score of Whitefield 51, North Cobb 39.
Finishing out the Lake City tournament, Whitefield competed against Hillgrove High School but was unable to come up victorious with a final score of Whitefield 53, Hillgrove 59. The top performers of the tournament were Isaiah, Brendon, and Malik. Isaiah scored 23 points, had 4 assists, and 4 rebounds. Brendon scored 19 points and had 16 rebounds. Malik scored 6 points, had 4 assists, and 2 rebounds.
Peach State Classic
Whitefield won the opening game against North Clayton, 87-80. The top performers were Brendon Myles with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals; Isaiah Hart with 24 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals; and Tyson Jackson with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block.
The WolfPack played a tough game the second day against Southwest Dekalb which ultimately ended in a 53-52 win that sent Whitefield to the championship round.
During the first quarter, Malik Jones had a successful jumper 6-6 with 5:45 left in the quarter. Tyson followed Malik’s example bringing the score to 12-8 with 3:35 in the quarter; the first quarter ended with Southwest Dekalb leading by one point.
In the second quarter, Brendon made a successful shot with 5:25 left on the clock. With three minutes left to go, Jimmy McCarthy’s lay-up slimmed Southwest Dekalb’s lead bringing the score to Whitefield 17, Southwest Dekalb 20. The second quarter ended with Southwest Dekalb in the lead by ten points.
The third quarter was another hard fought battle for the WolfPack. At the 5:10 mark, Southwest Dekalb was up 17 points. Isaiah scored a three-pointer, putting the WolfPack within 10 points of Southwest Dekalb, with a score of Whitefield 26, Southwest Dekalb 36. Hart had a jumper from the top of the arch ending the third quarter with a score of Whitefield 30, Southwest Dekalb 38.
The fourth quarter proved to be the most exciting of the game. The score at the 7:02 mark was Whitefield 30, Southwest Dekalb 43. A three-pointer by Brendon, and lay-ups by both Jimmy and Tyson brought the score closer, with Whitefield at 40, and Southwest Dekalb at 47 and four minutes left to go. Continuing the fight, Brendon made a three-pointer and Malik scored a lay-up and brought the score to WolfPack 45, Southwest Dekalb 47. Tyson tied the game 47-47 with a basket and 1:09 on the clock. Tensions were high as Brendon made 1 of 2 free throws giving the WolfPack the lead. Tyson made a lay-up giving the WolfPack a stronger lead of 50-47. Southwest Dekalb fought hard to take the lead with 10 seconds left in the game but Brendon dribbled the ball up on the left side of the court, avoided a defender, and made a basket securing the 53-52 win and qualifying the Pack for the championship game. Whitefield fell to Therrell High School 59-67 in the championship game.
Lake City Classic
The WolfPack started the Lake City Classic against Kell High School and lost the game - Whitefield 53, Kell 59.
Next the team defeated Cobb Christian 47-30. At the start of the North Cobb game, Jimmy’s lay-up tied the game at 2-2. Noah Dryden’s floater in traffic and Malik’s lay-up put Whitefield up 6-2. Brendon made a lay-up and three-pointer which pushed the lead to 13-7 with 2:20 remaining in the quarter. Jimmy made two free throws bringing the score to Whitefield 15, North Cobb 9 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was off to a great start with Isaiah’s 2-2 free throw with 4:50 remaining in the quarter which made the score 17-12. Isaiah made a fast break lay-up, which continued Whitefield’s lead, 17-12. His 1-2 free throw at the close of the quarter widened the gap even more, ending the second quarter Whitefield 23, North Cobb 15.
Whitefield continued the third quarter with a six-point lead. Jimmy made a basket and Brendon made a three-pointer bringing the WolfPack lead to 32-15. Tyson’s jumper from the free throw ended the third quarter with a score of 38-27 lead.
The fourth quarter began with a three-pointer by Isaiah. Brendon converted 2-2 free throws. Tyson made a final jump shot for the team and Whitefield ended the game victorious with a final score of Whitefield 51, North Cobb 39.
Finishing out the Lake City tournament, Whitefield competed against Hillgrove High School but was unable to come up victorious with a final score of Whitefield 53, Hillgrove 59. The top performers of the tournament were Isaiah, Brendon, and Malik. Isaiah scored 23 points, had 4 assists, and 4 rebounds. Brendon scored 19 points and had 16 rebounds. Malik scored 6 points, had 4 assists, and 2 rebounds.