Charles City dominant in 86-35 win over ARGS

Charles City’s Treyvon Cotman drives to the basket against ARGS’ Malek Leach.

Andre' Jones photo

In most basketball games, a team will usually put together one massive run to pull away from an opponent or to narrow a gap. In the case of the Charles City Panthers, they prefer their runs in multiples.

The homestanding Panthers put together several double digit scoring streaks as they routed the visiting Appomattox Regional Governor School Dragons 86-35 in a Jan. 8 Tri-Rivers District contest.

Right out the gate the hosts jumped out early and never relinquished the lead. A JeQuan Carroll three-ball from the top of the key sparked the Panthers’ first run, a 10-3 blastoff to open the contest. Later in the frame, Gavin Cotman’s tip-in off a miss would lead to a 12-0 run climaxed by Avery Jones’ six straight points as the Panthers led comfortably 34-10 in the opening minutes of the second quarter.

ARGS would try its best to stay in the game, as Nick Mason hit a three-pointer to keep the margin at 24 with just over two minutes remaining until halftime. But the Panthers would respond again, this time with Demaj Frazier’s lay-up coupled with four more points from Jones for a 9-1 run and a 50-20 halftime lead.

After the break, the Dragons were able to get back-to-back buckets from 6-foot-6 big man Terrence Northington, but once again the hosts had another run in them. Daron Jones’ drive and lay-up from the free throw line sparked a 16-5 run that ended with a Cotman lay-up that banked hard off the backboard for a 73-31 lead.

The closing session began as the preceding one ended, as Antonio Harris scored 10 of his points during a 12-4 run that closed the game, thanks to the mercy of a running clock.

After the game, Panther head coach Sharone Bailey expressed the importance of converting turnovers into scores.

“We’ve got to stress defense,” he said. “We press to get in shape and have to be active because we have little guards.”

Bailey also commended the maturity of his team, who faced more half-court defense in this game than they have in the past.

“We are starting to trust each other,” he added. “We are showing patience in executing, and we are starting to be more efficient.”

Charles City (8-5 overall, 4-0 Tri-Rivers) received 23 points from Avery Jones and 22 from Harris. Cotman pitched in with eight followed by Daron Jones’ seven, six from Jovan Howard, five each by Frazier and Carroll, four each from Thomas Kelly and Treyvon Cotman, and Ryan Jones’ two.

ARGS (2-9, 0-5) was led by Mason’s 10.