By: Tadi Abedje
The Georgetown Day Mighty Hoppers suffered a 97-53 loss against the Episcopal Maroons in a non-conference game on Tuesday, November 28.
In the first quarter, Asa Shannon started off the scoring for Episcopal with an and-one off a fast break. Then, Jordan Rayford answered for Georgetown Day with a bucket. Shannon scored another bucket on a putback shot. He collected the team’s first six points of the game as Georgetown Day called a timeout. With the shot clock winding down, Mighty Hoppers forward Montez McNeil scored a bucket from the left wing.
Tymu Chenery had a highlight reel for Episcopal as he stole a pass and went up for a one-hand slam dunk. Rayford made Georgetown Day’s first three-point shot of the game. Shannon made a layup a few seconds before the buzzer sounded. Episcopal finished the first quarter with a 19-13 lead.
In the second quarter, the Maroons continued it’s offensive barrage. Xavier Johnson started off with a three-pointer from the left wing. Chenery made two free throws after he got fouled on the putback attempt. Chenery also connected on a three-point shot to extend the lead to 27-13. On the other end, Johnson crossed over a defender and made a jump shot from the right side.
A couple possessions later, Darius Johnson converted an and-one while attacking the rim. Episcopal pushed its lead to as many as 24 points. Xavier Johnson converted an and-one with four seconds left in the second quarter. The Maroons outscored the Mighty Hoppers 30-12 to lead 49-25 at halftime.
When the second half started, Episcopal continued to dominate on both ends of the floor. In fact, the Maroons’ once lead by 41 points. They made tough shots from beyond the arc and bulldozed their way into the paint for high percentage shots. Episcopal held a 75-36 lead after three quarters. The Mighty Hoopers continued to struggle in the fourth quarter. But their struggles are a result of new players on the team.
“We have six new players, and we just trying to get acclimated,” Georgetown Day head coach Ray Milburn said. “We have four new players that we’re trying to get into the lineup, and we just need more work and we’ll be ready to go. Free throw shooting is number one. Ball movement and our perimeter defense is bad right now.”
McNeil led the Mighty Hoppers in scoring with 21 points, and Rayford chipped in with 17 points. For the Maroons, Xavier Johnson scored a game-high 27 points, and Asa Shannon added an extra 20 points.
