From Gwynn Park's first possession it was clear that Douglass' game plan was to shut down Barnes, the a 6-foot-5 senior forward who averages 15.1 points per game. Barnes managed to score 14 points Thursday, but the Eagles (15-7) tripled teamed him in the paint and forced him into early foul trouble.

 

Douglass coach Tyrone Massenburg said shutting down Barnes was a big part of the game plan.

"Yeah it definitely was, he is a big impact on their team," said Massenburg. "When he gets going they feed off his energy, and we tried to make him work as hard as he could. He still had some highlight plays, but I think we did a pretty good job."

The game was tied 15-15 at the end of the first quarter. However, with three minutes to go in the second quarter Barnes picked up his third foul on a charge and was forced to the bench, and that would be all the motivation the Eagles needed.

Douglass senior forward Timmone Whatley was one of several Eagles to play solid defense against Barnes.

"He was going to sit in the middle and try to make something happen for his team," said Whatley. "So we just tried to collapse in the middle whenever he got the ball."

With Barnes on the bench in foul trouble, Douglass went on an 8-2 run to take a 32-25 lead into halftime.

"When [Barnes] picked up his third foul we had to sub him out and I think that changed the course of the game," said Gwynn Park coach Mike Glick.

The Eagles maintained their momentum into the third quarter thanks in large part to forward Kavon Glover, who scored 10 of his 23 points during that period.

"He's our leading scorer, so we wanted him to get aggressive especially because they were in a little bit in foul trouble," Massenburg said. "He felt it a little bit and when he feels it he doesn't have any problems."

In the fourth quarter, Gwynn Park (14-8) looked as if it might rally. With two minutes to go the Yellow Jackets cut the Eagles lead to 12 points, thanks to senior guard Brandon Ford. The Howard University recruit was 6 of 6 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and 10 of 11 at the line for the game en route to a 30-point night.

Gywnn Park also started to make use of its press, which frazzled Douglass and forced some turnovers, but it wasn't enough.

"It's hard to press the whole entire game," said Glick. "We were right where we wanted to be in a low-scoring game, but [Douglass] made some great shots. I was really proud of how our kids responded in the fourth quarter playing hard at the end of the game."

Douglass got the better of Gwynn Park twice this season - the Eagles beat the Yellow Jackets 59-52 in January - and now the two rivals head into the 2A South Region playoffs, where both will be serious contenders to reach the region final. Gwynn Park beat Douglass in the regional semifinals last year.

Opening-round playoff games will be played next Friday, followed by the quarterfinals the week of Feb. 28.

"We understand it's the playoffs now," Massenburg said. "It is zero - zero now. Everything we did in the regular season was good then, but it doesn't really mean anything now, if we have to play Gwynn Park again. We just have to refocus and try to make a run in the playoffs."

Douglass 78, Gwynn Park 65

Douglass      15   17   24   22 - 78

Gwynn Park 15   10   14   26 - 65

Douglass (15-7) Kavon Glover 23, Timmone Whatley 17, Jeffrey Calhoun 15, Jasahn Johnson 13, Vincent Williams 8, Babajide Tomiye 2.

Gwynn Park (14-8) Brandon Ford 30, Tion Barns 14, Daniel Henry 9, Nick Walton 8, Jarvis Hawkins 2.