In dominating fashion, the University School Sharks defeated the Calvary Christian Academy Eagles 78-43. The Sharks were spearheaded by the play of Vernon Carey Jr., whose sheer size and strength once again proved too much for the team’s most recent opponent. Carey finished with 24 points, sitting out the entire fourth quarter as the Sharks amassed more than a 35 point lead to trigger a mandatory running clock.
University School came out in the first quarter controlling both ends of the floor. The Sharks jumped out to an 8-0 lead and held the Eagles to a single field goal. That field goal came with just 1:14 remaining on a Gregg Glenn bucket underneath the basket. Before you could blink, the Sharks had a 19-5 lead after one.
Led by Carey as the rim protector in the defensive paint, the Sharks engulfed any shot opportunities by the Eagles over the entire first half. Similar to the story in the first, Calvary Christian picked up its first field goal of the second quarter with 1:58 remaining.
The defensive blueprint for University School gave the Eagles a grand total of four field goals in the first half. With no easy shot opportunities to come by, the Eagles picked up most of its offensive point total from the free throw line. Despite that factor, the Sharks still amassed a huge 38-17 lead heading into the locker room. Carey led all scorers with 14 points at the break, nearly matching Calvary Christian’s offensive point total.
“Vernon is on a mission and he has proven that he can do enough great things to impact the game on both ends of the floor”, said head coach Jim Carr. “He blocked shots tonight, he hit three’s, and he ran the floor. Not many guys have that package of size, athletic ability, and strength to run the floor like him and finish with the ball in his hand. Vernon was just great tonight.”
With Vernon taking a rest, the Sharks poured out much of its bench over the course of the second half. Junior Scottie Barnes was the only other Shark in double figures, as University School got offensive contributions from nine other players. Barnes finished with a quite 14 points offensively, but used his length and on-ball defense around the perimeter to prevent any threat for Calvary Christian from outside.
On the flip side, the Eagles recorded a single player in double figures. With University School controlling much of the air space around the rim with the length of Barnes and Carey, points were at a premium for Calvary Christian. Senior Tim Dalger managed to crack the double figure mark with 10 points.
“They are like our rival team across from us,” said Barnes. “Since last year it has kind of developed into something and they have been talking a little bit of trash to us. We really needed to come out here early and put it on them tonight.”
Michael Costeines is a contributor for Mars Reel based in South Florida.
