Seasons
Announcement
Gwynn Park point guard Brandon Ford out for season
Gwynn Park point guard out for season
Ford suffers concussion on ‘freak play' and will miss playoffs
Ford took a hard fall and suffered what Glick called a "severe concussion" during the second quarter of Friday night's game against Friendly. Ford, who has averaged 12.6 points per game this season, left the game and did not return. He was taken to Children's Hospital in the District, where he remained until being released Monday afternoon.
Glick said Tuesday that Ford will make a complete recovery, but will not be available for the playoffs. Gwynn Park, the No. 2 seed in the 2A South Region, begins the postseason at home on Monday against the winner of Friday's first-round game between Central and Oakland Mills.
"It was just a freak play," Glick said. "The good thing is that he's a sophomore. He's still got two more years."
Though only a sophomore, Ford has become the most pivotal player for the Yellow Jackets, who enter the playoffs with a 17-5 overall record, including a 16-2 mark in County 3A/2A/1A League play.
"When you're a sophomore, and you're a point guard in Prince George's County and people are pressing you up and down the floor, it's trial by fire," Glick said. "But he got better as the year went on. He grew into the position, and I thought he had a breakout game against Friendly [on Friday]. He broke their press. He had eight points when he went out. He's a double-figure scorer, but he leads us in charges [taken] and in deflections and assists. It's a very tough loss."
Ford is the second Gwynn Park starter lost for the season. Center Maurice Peavy, who started the first 14 games of the season, has missed the last eight games and remains out with an infected toe.
To take Ford's place in the lineup, Glick will turn to another sophomore, Daniel Henry, who he called one of the top junior varsity point guards in the county. Henry helped the Yellow Jackets' JV team to a 22-0 record this season.
"His first varsity game will be a playoff game," Glick said of Henry. "He's been in many varsity practices and he's more than held his own. The good thing is we have nine days to prepare. We're not giving up by any means."