Stanton Handles Baldwin, Gets To .500 Mark
By FABRIZIO GOWDY | Jan. 15. 2020 | Sports
photo by Fabrizio Gowdy
A strong second half and a 25-point performance by junior point guard Simeon Womack helped the Stanton College Preparatory School Blue Devils varsity boys basketball team defeat Baldwin Junior-Senior High School Indians 73-52 at home Tuesday.
“I scored a lot of points, but we also played really well as a team,” said Womack, who came in leading the Blue Devils in scoring with 18.6 points per game.
The first half was close, with five ties and six lead changes in the first 10 minutes. Neither team led by more than six points, and Baldwin kept the game close by shooting 73 percent from the free throw line compared to Stanton's 33 percent.
Despite shooting better from the floor than the visiting Indians, the Blue Devils could only boast a slim 33-30 halftime lead.
Stanton began to pull away almost immediately as the third quarter got underway. The Blue Devils used an 11-2 run to build a 12-point lead early in the second half.
“We still had things we needed to work on in the first half, but we went in the locker room, talked to our coaches, and figured it out,” said Womack.
photo by Fabrizio Gowdy
An impressive third quarter was punctuated by a pair of impressive plays from Womack. At the 2:12 mark, Womack made a three pointer as he was being fouled, and completed the four point play with a made free throw. Womack struck again moments later, when the 6’ 2’’ point guard scored on a put back dunk in the closing seconds of the quarter.
“We did a good job defensively. We held Baldwin to 22 points in the second half,” said junior shooting guard Ro Vemuri.
Several players came off the bench and got playing time as the Blue Devils steadily increased their lead in the fourth quarter. One such player, junior small forward Tyler Pottenburgh*, had a three-pointer and an assist to show for his fourth quarter minutes.
“We played a good game and had good teamwork. They played a good game but again we pulled through,” said Pottenburgh.
The Indians are now 6-6, while the 8-8 Blue Devils go on the road to play Christ Church’s Academy Thursday night.
* We are obligated to disclose that Pottenburgh is a Devil’s Advocate staff member.