There was nothing special about Gwynn Park guard Agyei Gregory’s pregame routine on Wednesday. But when he took the court against No. 17 C.H. Flowers for the Prince George’s County boys’ basketball championship at Wise, his night turned extraordinary.
The senior, who came to the Brandywine school from his native U.S. Virgin Islands for his final year of high school, hit all six of his three-point attempts to power the No. 20 Yellow Jackets past the Jaguars, 57-51, and to their first county title since 2006.
Gwynn Park (18-5) was the co-champion of the Prince George’s County 3A/2A/1A league. It was playing in the county title game because it had won a tiebreaking coin toss with No. 18 Largo; many Lions players and coaches were watching from the stands.
While Gwynn Park senior Marcel Boyd (13 points and 12 rebounds) was a vital presence under the basket, Gregory was automatic from beyond the arc. He only missed two field goals and a free throw.
When the Jaguars (16-5), led by junior guard Dontae Holloway (12 points), cut a six-point halftime deficit to 51-49 with 2 minutes 43 seconds left, Gwynn Park senior forward Xavier Richards had two crucial layups and Gregory nabbed three important fourth-quarter rebounds.
“It was a big game and coach said to shoot the ball, so I shot the ball,” Gregory said.
Wise shows its depth
As usual for the eighth-ranked Wise girls’ team, standout senior guard Eliqua Brooks and Khadijah Gibson shined.
They carried the offensive load in the girls’ county championship: The duo combined for 46 points and 15 rebounds as the Pumas won, 79-57, over Gwynn Park.
It is Wise’s second county title in three years.
But Wise’s supporting cast played an important role in the win. Freshman center Ciara Lee played assertively under the basket — she had 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Senior guard Candace Ross played well on the perimeter and finished with 16 points.
To make another deep run in the playoffs, the supporting cast will be crucial factors for last year’s Maryland 4A finalists, players said.
“They’ve always been important,” said Brooks, who scored a game-high 24 points. “Candace, we call her the X-factor. . . . We’re going to need everyone on the bench and the starting five to work as a team.
Added Gibson (22 points): “I think that was great. I think that’s exactly what we need. We need all five people.”
Wise (21-1) held a 36-29 halftime lead on Gwynn Park before it began to pull away in the third quarter.
The Yellow Jackets (20-3) were led by senior forward Tiana Hall (14 points).
“This was a game that I had to feel it,” said Gregory, who had a game-high 22 points.