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| Tip-off! |
Practice makes perfect, but Team DC needed just one session (on game-day, no less!) to get in sync, rolling to an impressive 111-93 win over Team Philly yesterday at George Washington's Charles E. Smith Center.
The Smith Center played host to the first-ever The-BALL Showcase, a back-to-back home series between past and recent college all-stars from the DC and Philadelphia area. The two teams play again tonight at the Hagan Arena on the campus of Saint Joseph’s University: Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM.
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| DeMatha and Georgetown graduate Austin Freeman |
Team DC jumped out to an early 14-point lead, after only 210 seconds. Former Hoya standout Austin Freeman hit the league's very first four-point shot, putting DC up 16-2. They never looked back, building a 20 point cushion at halftime and 25 (91-66) after three 10-minute quarters. Considering the players only learned the league rules a couple of days before (and had just one practice earlier today) the play was impressive... with a heavy emphasis on offense. You didn't think both teams would combine for 204 points over 40 minutes by playing tight D, did you?
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| Former NBA star Johnny Newman coached Team DC |
Former Richmond star and 16-year NBA veteran Johnny Newman guided DC's squad, made up of former players from George Mason, Georgetown, George Washington and Maryland Universities. Chris Monroe and Tony Taylor represented GW, with Freeman, Henry Sims and Jason Clark on hand for Hoya Nation. Mason alum Folarin Campbell, Jai Lewis (captain of the 2006 Final Four squad) and Will Thomas rounded out the squad along with former Terps John Gilchrist (2003-05) James Gist (2005-08) and D.J. Strawberry (2003-07.) Team Philly was led by former Temple star Dionte Christmas, who came alive in the second half... unfortunately, too late to make a dent in the final margin.
Just in case, you can't make it to Philly: Tonight's game can be seen on Comcast SportsNet.
