Panthers effort valiant, but West Point escapes with 75-65 win

Charles City's Michael Callahan (center) preps for elevation and an eventual score betwen West Point's Montel Allen (left) and Josh Smith (right).

Andre' Jones photo

Charles City head coach Avery Jones deployed a box-and-one tactic of slowing down West Point leading scorer Montel Allen. And while the Panther defense frustrated Allen enough for a sub-par performance, a combination of Allen’s teammates scoring and Charles City missing crucial buckets at inopportune times played vital in the Jan. 14 Senior Night contest.

Four West Point players finished in double figures and Charles City Panthers failed to solidify runs as the visiting Pointers escaped 75-65 in the Tidewater District contest.

Using a tactic to slow down Allen with a player and having others sit in a zone on the defensive end, Charles City held the senior guard to a mere bucket from the floor in the first half. But the Pointers were able to get the offense going behind three-pointers from Derek Healy and Tyler Lockett. The Panthers remained steadfast in slowing down Allen, and despite a Panthers technical foul, the Pointer guard missed four straight free throws.

Meanwhile, Charles City was finding and offensive continuity. Trailing 27-18 at the start of the second quarter, Kyle Jones’ lay-in was complimented by a Michael Callahan three-pointer to put the Panthers with four (27-23). But the visitors surged ahead with a 9-3 run to end the quarter, taking a lead a 38-30 lead into the break.

West Point built a baker’s dozen lead (43-30) at the 4:28 mark in the third when Charles City’s guard play pushed to the forefront. Jones’ close range shot and a pair of free throws returned the lead to get the margin within 10. After a free throw by West Point’s Healy, Panther junior guard Ray Crump drained a three from the top of the key and followed it up the next trip down with a corner trifecta to cut the visitor’s lead to five (44-39). A Noah Ragland lay-up for the hosts cut the gap to a mere basket.

Both teams exchanged scores in the remainder of the quarter, but a Brian Hicks three-pointer at the 2:10 mark put the hosts down by two points (48-46).

But that would be the closest the Panthers would get in the remainder of the contest. Allen began to find success on penetration drives, scoring the final four points of the third to return a six-point lead to the visitors (52-46). Allen would assist on two scores by teammate Josh Smith and convert a hook shot to put the Panthers in a double-digit deficit once again (59-49).

The hosts made one last run at West Point, thanks to Allen picking up his fifth foul at the 3:42 mark of the final quarter. Down by seven, Callahan drained a three-pointer to put the Panthers back in contention (65-61). The next trip down saw a jump ball forced with possession favoring the hosts. But a turnover on the inbounds led to a Healy lay-in for West Point. The Pointers would convert six of ten free throws down the stretch to claim victory.

After the game, the Panther head coach talked about the improvement his team demonstrated in the contest.

“Tonight the effort was there and our game plan was executed well,” Jones said. “We did a good job containing Allen.

“But what hurt us what that we didn’t communicate on the weak side and we gave up too many points,” he continued. “They took advantage and converted their second and third chance opportunities. I’m hopeful that we will be able to resolve that problem before our next game.”

Crump and Hicks tied for a team high 15 points for Charles City, who remain winless at 0-12 on the season. Ragland contributed nine, Callahan tossed in eight, Jones finished with six, Tyler Allen added five, Mason Jefferson scored four, and Michael Grubbs rounded out the scoring with three points.

Marshall Gill’s 18 points led West Point in the win. The Pointers also received double digit scoring efforts from Lockett (16), Healy (16), and Allen (15).