Rockville's Rally Not Enough as Blake Wins 64-61
Written by: Elizabeth Aust
ROCKVILLE, MD - After a slow start for the Blake High School Bengals, the team managed to pull out a win of 64 to 61 but not before the Rockville High School Rams gave them a run for their money.
The Bengals won the tip off when the first quarter began but lost their advantage when the Rams scored the first basket. Although the Rams might have been the underdog in this match up, the team started off strong and had a four point lead going into the second quarter.
The Bengals start out the second quarter with a full-court press, throwing the Rams somewhat out of their element. Blake's defense is strong and tight. However, senior Ram captain forward Zach Ogunfolu takes charge of his team by making the first three pointer of the game.
Ogunfolu does not stop there. With breakaway layups, countless rebounds and a few jump balls, he is the biggest asset to the team in this game. The Rams end the half with the lead at a score of 29 to 28.
Both teams continue to play man-to-man defense when coming out to the second half. Senior Bengal forward Riley Keys-Foxworth retrieves the first rebound of the half. The Rams' offense starts the second half off strong with quick, smart passes. Once again, Ogunfolu continues to shine offensively and defensively.
After losing the lead to the Bengals, the Rams take it right back and end the quarter with the lead.
The Rams raise their intensity level when senior Ram forward Philip McTighe takes a charge and his teams gets the ball once again. Blake matches that intensity level by using a full-court press again after taking the pressure off the Rams. The game gets extremely close with three minutes and 11 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Senior Ram captain guard Ben Kane is usually one of the Rams' leading scorers. However, tonight he is not performing to the best of his abilities and is missing a majority of his shots taken.
The teams are neck and neck. The ball doesn't stay on either side of the court for very long which makes the game an intense head-turner. Ogunfolu has breakaway with the court all to himself and makes a finger roll with one minute and 38 seconds to go in the third quarter.
The Bengals follow the shot with a shot of their own which is followed by a foul. The Rams miss their opportunity for a shot and junior Bengal Brandon Hedley sinks a three pointer which brings the score 42 to 41, Rams. The Rams attempt to bring the ball up but a high pass is picked of by the Bengals who make it a scoring opportunity and bring the score to 43 to 42, Bengals.
The Rams start to lose their momentum when they miss a shot and the Bengals get the rebound and score again. The Bengals have very quick transitions with excellent passes. The score is 45 to 42, Bengals, starting the fourth quarter.
McTighe starts the quarter off by making his attempted shot, pulling out a foul and making the foul shot. The Rams' defense is not as effective as it usually is; it's good, but not good enough. The Bengals work around the Rams every time.
What the Rams are lacking on their defense they are making up for in offense. The team is making a majority of their shots taken and are making quick, precise passes.
The momentum shifts when Ogunfolu has yet another break away layup. The Bengals just can't seem to stop him. His layup brings the score to 56 to 49 with three minutes and 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Although the Bengals have a seven point lead, the Rams still believe they have a chance which makes them play twice as hard as they were before.
The Bengals keep their lead when junior Ram captain forward DeAndre Kelly only makes one out of his two foul shots. Ogunfolu is also fouled but makes both shots, bringing his total points to 21.
Ogunfolu has yet another breakaway which he makes, bringing the score to 60 to 58, getting the Rams back in the game.
Before the Bengals even reach half court, the Rams foul with 43 seconds left in the game. The Bengals make both foul shots which makes the score 62 to 58. However, at the next opportunity Kelly sinks a three pointer getting the Rams right back in the game once again. The crowd goes wild.
After a time out, junior Ram guard Crusoe Gongbay fouls and the Bengals make both foul shots bringing the score to 64 to 61, Bengals, with 26 seconds left.
Ben Kane goes up for a three, which would tie the game, but he misses. The Rams retrieve the rebound. Ogunfolu goes up for a shot at the buzzer but he also misses, leaving the game with a score of 64 to 61, Bengals.
