Garfield Puts on a Display in Unity Hoop Showcase Main Event
By Steve Dion
| Monday- January 18th | 2016 | Boys | 3A | Metro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Franklin | 12 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 42 | |
| Garfield | 30 | 36 | 16 | 12 | 94 | |
Garfield freshman PJ Fuller
The final game of a solid slate of Metro League hoops in The 3rd Annual Unity Hoop Showcase featured one of the oldest rivalries in the state: Garfield against Franklin. The host Bulldogs have been the dominant team of the two as the back-to-back state champs are once again the top of Washington high school hoops. The Craig Jackson-led Quakers are headed back in the right direction which made Monday a great chance to challenge the most dominant team in the state.
Garfield displayed their team speed early by gaining a 9-2 lead in a flash. Franklin called a timeout to regroup, but the Bulldogs continued their onslaught in which seven scorers combined for 30 points in the first quarter. The lead continued to grow in the second quarter with a few highlight dunks by Jaylen Nowell and Alphonso Anderson sprinkled in who scored 16 and 9 respectively. Keiron Goodwin netted eight tough points in the first half for the Quakers, but the damage was done. GHS led by forty at the break.
A running clock was implemented in the the final two quarters which expedited the contest and in turn slowed the breakneck scoring rate of the home team. Curtis Walker recorded nine off the bench and PJ Fuller also contributed eight of his own. Franklin showed their depth by logging ten players in the scoring column, but it would not be enough to challenge the champs. Garfield fell a half-dozen point short of triple digits despite the rolling game clock in a lopsided, yet entertaining game.
The Final Score
Garfield 94, Franklin 42.
Top Performers:
Garfield
Terrell Brown- 17 points
Franklin
Keiron Goodwin- 8 points