After a first round bye, the boys were rested and ready to go. Northwood beat Wootton in an upset, so they traveled to “The Hive” to take on the Hornets on March 3. They defended the school well, winning 83-62 and advancing to round three to take on Magruder at Magruder.
The starting five was the same as ever going into the playoffs, with Avery Richardson, Jayden Thompson, EJ Simpson, Ethan Ray and Tony DeStefano who took the court and got ready to go. Ray took the jump ball and we were off. Richardson started the game off with two out of two free throws, as the teams and the games first points. Simpson followed it up with a layin, Thompson had a layin and Simpson had a steal. Simpson was fouled and made one out of two at the line before Richardson was back, also making one out of two. DeStefano had his first layup of the night, assisted by Simpson and subs hit the floor. Dorian Green and Ellis Brown got in, with Green having an immediate impact with a layup. Thompson made his way to the basket once more for a layup and Richardson ended the quarter with a three as the buzzer hit zero. The boys played an amazing first quarter, holding Northwood to only five points while scoring 19 themselves.
Thompson opened the second with three, assisted by Richardson before making another layup. Brown had a layup as well, making the crowd electric. Ray had his first points of the game this quarter, making both free throws off a technical foul on Northwood. DeStefano was fouled and made one of two before taking a charge, hitting the ground hard. Simpson was fouled again, making both free throws before assisting Green in a layup. Thompson finished the quarter with a layup. The team wasn’t as strong on defense this quarter, allowing a lot more points. Damascus was still leading going into halftime, 34-23.
The third quarter was the quarter of fouls and free throws. Ray started it off with a jumpshot, followed by a layup with an “and one” that he made. Richardson did the same thing, driving for the layup, getting fouled and making the shot. Ray then made four free throws off of two separate plays before DeStefano made his way to the line, making one of two. Thompson also made his way to the line, making one of two before having a layup assisted by Ray. Ray then had a layup by himself before everyone was on the line again. DeStefano went two for two, Ray went two for two twice before making a jumpshot. Simpson ended the free throws for this quarter, making one of two. Ray finished the quarter scoring wise with a layup. The boys continued to expand their lead going into the final quarter, 63-42.
Thompson must have missed out of the free throw fun of the third quarter, because he started the fourth off with three out of four free throws from two separate plays. Richardson had two layups, back to back, and Thomspon made his way to the rim again for another layup. DeStefano had another layup and Ray was back on the line, making both free throws. Thompson hit another three, Richardson hit a jumpshot and finished the game off with a layup.
The season came to a close when the boys fell to Magruder on Wednesday, March 3 with a final score of 57-46.
