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Eleanor Roosevelt boys win PG County Championship over GP 63-72

Posted by Michael Glick at Feb 24, 2016 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )
Eleanor Roosevelt boys win Prince George's County Championship           

ER GP boys bballUPPER MARLBORO – Tuesday night’s battle between Eleanor Roosevelt and Gwynn Park, two teams with three or fewer losses, was a fitting end to the county basketball schedule.

The 19-3 Raiders continued their county dominance in boys’ basketball with a 72-63 win over the 21-2 Yellow Jackets and in turn won the Prince George’s County basketball championship.

Both teams played extremely well in their final game before the area playoffs begin and it was a much needed test for both teams as they try to prove that they are serious contenders in the 4A and 3A state playoffs.

“I think we all feel the same,” Gwynn Park Head Coach Mike Glick said. “We’re zero and zero and we’ve got to get ready for the playoffs. I think Roosevelt has an excellent team and might be one of the better teams we played all year. That’s going to make us a better team and the most important thing is nobody got injured.”

Gwynn Park started fast out of the gate, jumping to a 5-0 lead on two quick baskets from Kollin Mitchell. Still, the Raiders answered quickly with an 11-2 run to go up 11-7. They would lead 15-10 after the first quarter.

“Our guys were ready to go today and responded, which I was excited about because that was a tough loss (to Bowie on Feb. 16). They haven’t lost sight of what the goal is going into playoffs Monday and that’s important,” Roosevelt Head Coach Brendan O’Connell said.

Victor Okafor, Trent Bishop and Jaden Faulkner were huge inside for the Raiders. The smaller Gwynn Park team did all it could in facing the size disadvantage, but couldn’t stop Okafor from scoring 16 points, while Faulkner added 11. Bishop led all scorers with 19.

“I thought our big guys played very well tonight and I thought Naji (Marshall) did well tonight because Gwynn Park is really good at taking your best player away. We knew they’d do some different stuff and he was patient and I thought had a great all-around game,” O’Connell said.

Gwynn Park started to regain momentum in the second quarter by dictating most of the play and kept Roosevelt star Naji Marshall off the score sheet. However, with two minutes remaining in the half, Marshall took over by scoring eight points and gave Roosevelt a 34-28 halftime lead.

“I just let the game come to me,” said Marshall, who finished with 17 points. “I didn’t try to force the issue and just jack up shots. I just took my time and if I saw something open I would try to take it. I just see openings and if I land on two feet and I’m still open of course I’m going to take the shot.”

Gwynn Park gave Roosevelt a tremendous push in the second half behind leading scorer Aaron Parker, who finished with 17 points, but the Raiders refused to relinquish their lead by the end of the third quarter (52-43).

Both teams played their best quarter of the game in the fourth, scoring 20 points each. But the Yellow Jackets fizzled in attempting a comeback, as they missed numerous open shots and were out rebounded by the Raiders.

“I was really proud of how our kids battled and played until the end. They showed a lot of heart. We just got to knock down open shots and make free throws. I thought Roosevelt’s charge taking was incredible and that was a huge difference in the game,” Glick said.

Eleanor Roosevelt will gladly take the victory after its disappointing 55-52 loss to Bowie where the Raiders performed very poorly against a school they had previously beaten. The loss to Bowie was the Raiders' first loss in 18 games.

Roosevelt will play the winner of Suitland and Charles H. Flowers in the second round of the 4A MPSSAA playoffs. Meanwhile, Gwynn Park will play the winner of Crossland and Central in the second round of the 3A MPSSAA playoffs. 

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Eleanor Roosevelt Captures PG County Chip Over Gwynn Park Cap Hoops Video

Posted by Michael Glick at Feb 24, 2016 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )
                                                            
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Eleanor Roosevelt Captures PG County Chip Over Gwynn Park 2/24/2016

February 25, 2016 6:07 am

Eleanor Roosevelt captured the 2016 PG County Chip at Wise HS behind 17 points from Naji Marshall, and 16 points from Victor Okafor. Aaron Parker led Gwynn Park with 7.

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Eleanor Roosevelt Downs Gwynn Park For PG County Title - DMV Elite.com

Posted by Michael Glick at Feb 24, 2016 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

Eleanor Roosevelt vs. Gwynn Park

Eleanor Roosevelt Downs Gwynn Park For PG County Title - DMVelite.com

Video of Eleanor Roosevelt Downs Gwynn Park For PG County Title - DMVelite.com

Video from Eleanor Roosevelt's 72-63 win over Gwynn Park in the 2016 Prince George's County Championship game on February 24, 2016 at Wise High School. Includes interviews with Roosevelt's Victor Okafor and Naji Marshall.

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Eleanor Roosevelt boys claim PG County basketball titles over GP 72-63

Posted by Michael Glick at Feb 24, 2016 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

Eleanor Roosevelt boys, Forestville girls claim Prince George’s County basketball titles

The Raiders, with the assistance of Victor Okafor, defeated the Yellow Jackets, claiming the Prince George’s County championship. (Video by Brandon Martin for Synthesis/Koubaroulis LLC./The Washington Post)
By Brandon Parker February 24 at 11:11 PM

Fresh off his team’s first loss in two months and with the Prince George’s County boys’ basketball championship up for grabs, Eleanor Roosevelt’s Naji Marshall had to suppress much of his eagerness entering Wednesday’s matchup

The Raiders’ opponent, No. 7 Gwynn Park, has built a reputation for limiting the other team’s top player, a notion that Marshall was well aware of as he went scoreless for the game’s first 15 minutes. But the senior didn’t sulk or press the issue. Instead, he simply waited until just before halftime, when the right moment arose.

Spotting an opening in the lane, Marshall sliced through it and converted a floater that led to nine consecutive points and put the No. 6 Raiders on track for a 72-63 win at Wise in Upper Marlboro. The victory marked Eleanor Roosevelt’s second straight county title and fourth in five years.

“I just didn’t try to force the issue,” said Marshall, who finished with 17 points. “I seen the openings and tried to take what they gave me.”

Marshall’s teammates followed his lead and found their rhythm. After the Yellow Jackets scored the game’s first five points, the Raiders quickly responded, led by Trent Bishop (17 points) and his ability to assert himself in the paint and on the offensive glass during a 9-0 run.

The Raiders (19-3) would never trail again, using their methodical play and rebounding advantage to rack up 15 second-chance points while slowly building upon their lead.

“All of our big guys played really well. . . and second-chance points is always an emphasis of ours,” Raiders Coach Brendan O’Connell said. “Naji just had a great all-around game. He went a while without getting any touches, but he stayed patient and got some tough baskets against a tough team.”

After a soaring layup by Marshall gave the Raiders a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets (21-2) threatened to rally by pushing the tempo. But their chances were quickly stifled when Bishop connected with Victor Okafor for an alley-oop, sealing the Raiders’s 19th win in their last 20 games.

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No. 2 Eleanor Roosevelt downs No. 5 Gwynn Park to take PG County boys hoops crown

Posted by Michael Glick at Feb 24, 2016 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )
No. 2 Eleanor Roosevelt downs No. 5 Gwynn Park to take PG County boys hoops crown

February 25, 2016 Kyle McFadden HS Basketball 0

UPPER MARLBORO – Coming off their first loss in over two months, and first loss of the entire year to a public school basketball team, Eleanor Roosevelt had to take a back seat and absorb the short term adversity that quickly swirled around the program.

Even though setbacks rarely stumbled across the Raiders this season, chewing and spitting out almost every public school team in their path, they knew dwelling on a disappointing loss to an intra-regional opponent would sap state championship aspirations and potentially plague a landmark season.

So, just 48 hours later, No. 2 Eleanor Roosevelt (20-3) had to get back up quickly as they would face No. 5 Gywnn Park in the PG County Championship. The Raiders suppressed all negative vibes from Monday night’s loss to Bowie, downing the Yellow Jackets 72-63 for their fourth county title in five years.

“I’m happy with how our guys responded because that was a tough loss on Monday,” Eleanor Roosevelt head coach Brenden O’Connell said. “I thought our guys were ready to go tonight … they played hard.”

All season long, Gwynn Park has had the Kryptonite handy when attempting to shutdown the opponents top offensive threat. For Naji Marshall, the Raiders most heralded asset, he was well aware and prepared for what may take place on Wednesday.

And when 15 minutes ticked off the clock, with Marshall yet to register a single point minutes before halftime, he took a few breaths to realize it’s just another night of basketball.

Instead of fretting, he patiently waited. Sure enough, a seam in the lane opened and Marshall exploded to the rim, finishing with a soft floater off the glass that would lead to nine straight points to conclude the final 2:30 of the first half.

Marshall’s nine-point binge to round out the second quarter gave his Raiders team a 34-28 halftime lead.

“I just didn’t try and force the issue,” Marshall said, who finished with 17 points. “I saw the openings, and tried to take what (Gwynn Park) gave me.”

Marshall, a 6-foot-6 towering guard that has numerous of Division-1 offers with Rutgers and Virginia Tech among them, does everything and anything a standout player would do. From his dynamic offensive ability, to disrupting presence on the defensive end, and occasionally making the garbage play, Marshall is there to assert himself in the climax of a contest.

“That’s why he’s so good,” O’Connell said of Marshall. “He does everything.”

After Gwynn Park jumped out to an early 7-2 lead 3:55 into the first, Eleanor Roosevelt responded with a 9-0 run sparked by Trent Bishop (17 points) and his ability to pound the offensive glass.

The Raiders would captivate a stellar regular season, never trailing again by taking a firm threshold with their overwhelming size (11 players 6’3″ or taller and four 6’6″ or taller), blocking numerous of shots around the rim and generating 15 second chance points.

“That’s what we emphasize,” O’Connell said. “If we keep doing that, we’ll be in good shape.”

Gwynn Park (20-2) would get no closer than three points after Aaron Parker (17 points) rattled off seven quick points to start the second half.

The Raiders shot 47.5% from the floor on 29/61 shooting while the Yellow Jackets shot 42.6% on 23/54 shooting.

When it was all said and done, Monday night’s loss to a potential playoff opponent faded rather quickly and was replaced with a side of perspective.

“Tonight’s a different kind of game, obviously we wanted to win, but if we lose, it’s not like our season is over,” O’Connell said of the county championship. “Monday put things in perspective for us, that we have bigger goals to accomplish.”