Pro City Update: Semifinals 2013
August 11, 2013 - With this year's Nike DC Pro City summer league rapidly closing, yesterday's semi-final playoff tilts were saddled with expectations of good basketball. They didn't disappoint.
A Wash 66 Skills and Scrimmages 62
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Using a frontcourt of Gus Gilchrist (19 points) and Arinze Onuaku (10 points), A Wash erased an eight point halftime deficit. G'Town senior Aaron Bowen along with Florian Campbell joined them in double figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Bowen added a pair of boards and assists, plus a steal.
Though A Wash's bigs were the centerpiece, Campbell and the guards sealed the deal: S and S employed double teams in the front court, to which A Wash's guards eventually sank open jumpers on kick outs or simply made basketball plays.
Campbell was overheard counseling "Look out for mismatches", and his steal, foul and subsequent throw gave the team a 50-47 advantage with around five minutes to play.
Bowen hit several key second half shots, and secured an offensive rebound with 39 seconds left before finding Gilchrist who was fouled, making both charity attempts.
Campbell himself also sank free throws with under 30 seconds remaining.
S and S guards Dele Ojo and Kevin Thompson both dropped 12 points, while center Maurice Sutton finished with 14 points.
Down four points and the clock reading 7.9 seconds remaining, Ojo found himself on the foul line. A timeout discussion - the team had no coach, leading a player to joke afterward "We were all player-coaches" - produced the game plan of making both charity stripers, which he did.
Unfortunately, they wouldn't get another opportunity to score again, and A Wash enjoyed a pair of completed free throws.
Premier Athletics 67 Symonds All-Stars 64
If the first semifinal was exciting, this one pulsed with electricity - Corey Allmond, sank a leaning, off balance 30-plus footer with around a second remaining, securing the win for Premier. His dramatic shot capped a see-saw second stanza in which Premier was down five at intermission.
Allmond led all scorers with 29 points. Andrew Washington, aka 'Spongebob' finished with 21 points.
Danny Sumner put on a stellar display for Symonds, driving and hitting outside shots. He tallied 21 points himself.
Jasper Williams notched 12 points for Symonds. Hoya senior walk-on John Caprio produced a stat line of 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
For a discussion of Caprio and Bowen - how they played, what that might auger for this season - see our Premium Court message board.
Today's final, obviously pitting A Wash against Premier, is set for 4p EST.
G'Town's McDonough Arena stands as the site, as usual.
Player Update:
Dele Ojo - 6'1", 175 pound guard, Skills and Scrimmages - Quick and fearless, Ojo, an athletic guard, readily drives and defends. He can shoot the long ball, but as he noted "Sometimes I don't shoot it consistently". He has to trust his jumper.
A veteran of pro leagues in "Canada, Mexico, Germany" in addition to the WBA and APBL. A graduate of Pfeiffer in '06, Ojo indicated "I'm trying to go back to Germany". If that doesn't pan out, Ojo indicated he could return to the APBL's Rockville Victors.