In that order.

So what a surprise it was to just about everybody in the gym last night when Achuko, better known for his play as a tight end, started scoring in droves, especially down the stretch.

He scored 15 of his career-high 27 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed 13 rebounds as the 13th-ranked Yellow Jackets rallied for a 71-65 victory over visiting Fairmont Heights in a Prince George's 3A/2A/1A game in Brandywine.

"Did he really?" asked Gwynn Park Coach Mike Glick when informed of Achuko's scoring total. "Unbelievable. That's why I love football players. They're not scared, and they play with reckless abandon."

They apparently also don't mind near-crazy schedules. After last night's game, Achuko said he planned to be on the road with his father by 4 a.m. this morning so they could drive to Pittsburgh for a football recruiting visit to Duquesne. He also has a trip scheduled to upstate New York to visit Colgate next weekend.

While Achuko plans to play football in college, he showed last night why he is essential to his school's basketball team, scoring nearly all of his points on close shots as guards Sean Thomas (14 points) and Harold Washington (17 points) repeatedly drove the lane and passed.

Still, those seemingly easy shots were not automatic, Glick said, noting Achuko had struggled to score this season. He entered averaging 7.2 points and nearly doubled his previous season high of 14.

"He would rush shots, [miss] uncontested layups," said Glick, whose team improved to 10-0, 6-0 in the Prince George's 3A/2A/1A. "Washington and Thomas are great break-down players. His ability to finish is huge for us. We've been working all season on Chiby finishing around the basket."

The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than seven points. Fairmont Heights (6-3, 3-2) took a 59-56 lead before Achuko sparked a 7-0 run. He scored on a putback, made a steal that led to a basket by Washington and then converted a three-point play for a 63-59 lead.

It was 65-65 when Achuko made a reverse layup to give the Yellow Jackets the lead with less than two minutes left.

"We call man-to-man defense, and a guy gambles, guy steps up and he gets a layup," Fairmont Heights Coach George Wake said of Achuko. "I'm 1,100 years old, and I could score those baskets the way we left him open."

No. 13 Gwynn Park 71 Fairmont Heights 65 Tough Test Looms: After playing Central (Md.) Tuesday, Gwynn Park will host No. 4 Largo on Friday. Wanna Play Horse?: James Watkins made a half-court shot to end the first half, and Joseph Fearn banked in a 25-footer to end the third quarter for Fairmont Heights. No. 13 Gwynn Park 71 Fairmont Heights 65 Tough Test Looms: After playing Central (Md.) Tuesday, Gwynn Park will host No. 4 Largo on Friday. Wanna Play Horse?: James Watkins made a half-court shot to end the first half, and Joseph Fearn banked in a 25-footer to end the third quarter for Fairmont Heights.