MIAA

Old hand helps youthful Glenelg Country nip St. Paul's, 71-70

1/13/2010

Senior Justin Johnson fills that role nicely for Glenelg Country and in a huge MIAA B Conference basketball game, Tuesday, Johnson scored a team high 23 points to help guide the host Dragons to a 71-70 victory over St. Paul's, in Ellicott City.

In a contest which was close from the outset, the two title contenders traded leads in the first half, with Glenelg Country leading by three after one quarter and St. Paul's battling back to grab a three point advantage at the half. The Crusaders continued to lead by three, 64-61, entering the final period, but led by Johnson and sophomore sensation Isaiah Miles, who finished with 17 points, the Dragons were able to rally for the win.

Both squads were excellent from the free throw, each finishing at 80%, but Glenelg Country got 10 more opportunities from the charity stripe where it outscored St. Paul's, 20-12.

Johnson, who had one three pointer in the game, was 10-of-11 from the line, while Miles was 5-of-8 and Tre Jordan was perfect on four attempts. Freshman guard Warren Powers also added nine points for the Dragons.

Junior guards Winfield Willis and Virgil Davis combined for seven three pointers and 49 points to lead St. Paul's. Willis had a game-high 26 points, while Davis had four treys, was 7-of-8 from the line and finished with 23 points. The Crusaders also received 10 points from sophomore Nigel Sydnor.

Glenelg Country, now 11-2 overall, remained unbeaten in the B Conference, where it is 6-0. The Dragons lead the Black Division, which will come down to a battle with St. Vincent Pallotti, which is 4-0 in the conference. The Dragons and Panthers will not meet for the first time until Jan. 29, but they will battle two times in the final week of the season, setting the stage for an exciting finish for the division race. Up next for GCS is a visit to St. Mary's on Friday.

St. Paul's (7-5, 4-3), after going undefeated in regular season league play last year and winning its first three conference games this winter, has suddenly lost three of its last four. The Crusaders now trail Archbishop Curley by a full game in the Red Division, while Mount Carmel and Gilman are right there. It should be a great finish as those four teams battle for just three playoff spots.

Glenelg Country 71, St. Paul's 70
GC - 14 - 13 - 24 - 20 - 71
SP- 11 - 19 - 24 - 16 - 70
SP: Willis 26, Davis 23, Sydnor 10, T. Barton 6, A. Barton 3, Fries 2. Totals 24 12-15 70.
GC: Johnson 23, Miles 17, Powers 9, Tagires 6, T. Jordan 6, B. Jordan 6, Gibbons 3, Koffel 2, Boyd 2. Totals 24 20-25 71.