Stanton Survives River City Science Academy Comeback, Wins Fourth Straight
By FABRIZIO GOWDY | Jan. 27, 2020 | Sports
The Stanton College Preparatory School Blue Devils varsity boys basketball team won its fourth straight game Thursday night with a 79-65 home victory over the River City Science Academy Rockets.
photo by Fabrizio Gowdy
“We composed ourselves, played hard, and made our free throws, and that allowed us to win the game,” said Womack.
The Blue Devil offense had its highest scoring first quarter of the season thanks in large part to the hot hand of junior point guard Simeon Womack. Womack knocked down three three-pointers and scored 14 of Stanton's 26 points in the opening quarter, helping Stanton open up a 13 point lead over RCSA.
“When we’re at our high, we’re really good and it showed in the first quarter,” said Stanton head Coach Rob Burnett.
The second quarter was far more balanced, with the Rockets edging out the Blue Devils in scoring 14-13. Junior shooting guard Ro Vemuri scored on a four-point play with 5:37 to play in the half, giving Stanton four-point plays in back to back home games.
photo by Fabrizio Gowdy
“Ro, Sim, Colby —even the big men— all made their shots and we executed our plays,” said sophomore point guard Nate Ferrer.
After cutting the lead to 12 points at the break, the Rockets carried their second quarter momentum into the second half. The Blue Devils committed seven fouls in the first six minutes of the third quarter, putting the Rockets in the bonus and on the free throw line, setting up a RCSA scoring run. Coach Burnett was forced to use a timeout after the Rockets cut the lead to just five points with 2:37 to play in the third.
“We have to buckle down on defense, get the rebounds so there aren’t easy buckets, and work as a team,” said Coach Burnett.
photo by Fabrizio Gowdy
An 11-0 Blue Devil run spanning the end of the third quarter and the opening minutes of the fourth featured two threes from Vemuri and gave Stanton a 16 point cushion with seven minutes remaining.
“We fought through the adversity, and if we want to keep winning games we have to keep doing that,” said Vemuri.
The Rockets once again battled back, cutting the lead to just eight with 2:50 to play. Stanton answered with 27 fourth quarter points, including eight free throws in the closing minutes. Vemuri’s three three-pointers and eleven fourth quarter points helped put the game away.
“It was a good test for us today, and we responded well, and I think that will help us in the long run,” said Vemuri.
The Blue Devils, who have not lost at home since Dec. 9, improve their record to 10-8, while the Rockets fall to 9-5. Stanton moves on to face one of the toughest opponents on its schedule, 16-3 Bishop Kenny, at home on Jan. 29.