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Ejections don't slow Gwynn Park in 77-60 win over Largo
Ejections don't slow Gwynn Park on Thursday
Yellow Jacket boys team takes early lead, earn double-digit win vs. Largo
Gwynn Park's Tion Barnes slams home two easy points for the Yellow Jackets during the second half of Thursday's game against Largo. The Yellow Jackets earned a 77-60 victory at Gwynn Park High in Brandywine.
The Gwynn Park High School boys' basketball team produced what coach Mike Glick called its best performance of the season on Thursday night. But all was not completely smooth for the Yellow Jackets.
Gwynn Park jumped out to a 12-0 lead, then survived the ejection of two players in a 77-60 victory against Largo. The Yellow Jackets improved to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the County 3A/2A/1A League, while the Lions dropped their second in a row and are 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.
"We had really put the emphasis on rebounding and defense after a terrible defensive performance in our last game [a 61-56 win against Forestville on Tuesday]," Glick said. "I thought today was the best we looked this season."
With 6 minutes, 8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Gwynn Park senior guard Brian Blue was issued a technical foul for pushing Largo guard Will Johnson. Blue then proceeded to run up to Johnson and exchange words with him, which prompted a second technical foul, ending his night. Yellow Jackets' guard D.J. West Jr. was given an automatic ejection for leaving the bench during the brief fracas.
By Prince George's County rules, the ejection requires Blue to sit out the Yellow Jackets' next game, scheduled for Friday night against Surrattsville. West will be available, as his ejection only resulted in one technical foul.
The brief disruption did not stop the Yellow Jackets from finishing off the Lions.
Gwynn Park senior Tion Barnes continued his impressive play with 21 points and nine rebounds. It was the third game this season that the 6-foot-5 forward has scored at least 20 points. Teammate Mike Hemsley added 21 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Sophomore Eric Batts added 14 points and five rebounds.
Forward Damante McNeill led Largo with 18 points, and guard Derrick Colter added 17, but the Lions lost their second in a row. They blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter against Potomac on Tuesday night. Despite the two-game skid after a 5-0 start, Lions' coach Lewis Howard is confident in his team.
"We're in great shape now," Howard said. "This is practice. I know they say the standings mean a lot, but what we want to do is continue to get better. This was nice intensity out there between the two teams, but that helps with our competitive edge and we need that. It's only early January."
