Undefeated Carver escapes Charles City’s upset bid 65-60

Charles City's Taylor Bey (5) observes contact from Carver's Tyson Marsh (21) as he looks to convert a difficult lay-up.

Robb Johnson photo

Prior to Friday night’s basketball game against the seventh-ranked Group 1A team Carver Academy, Charles City Head Coach De’Quantae Mason told his team that the early tough games and losses to higher classification squads would factor into their performances against top teams in their classification. And his team responded well to the challenge.

But if was the benefit of the visiting Wolverines ability to get to the free throw line that proved to be the difference as Carver escaped Charles City with a 65-60 victory.

The back-and-forth battle between the teams began early after the Panthers’ Gavin Stewart opened the contest with a three-pointer. Carver relied on top scorer Tyson Marsh for baskets to restore the lead to the guests, but another three-pointer from Stewart along with free throws from Shane Jones bestowed a 8-4 lead to the hosts. Charles City managed to hold onto the lead (18-16) as they entered quarter number two.

Carver used the transition as a way to erase their early quarter deficit. The visitors used a 16-4 run to push the lead to double digits (32-22) over the Panthers.

But the hosts wouldn’t wane, as late scores by Jonlei Coles and Taylor Bey cut the Wolverine’s advantage in half as the halftime intermission hit.

Charles City rolled back into the contest thanks to Bey’s nine points in the third quarter. It was Coles’ running floater in the lane that returned the lead to Charles City (45-44) for the first time since the early second quarter. But the advantage was short-lived, as Carver used a 12-2 run to jump ahead 56-47 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Panthers continued to pushback, with Coles jumper and Stewart’s trifecta cutting the lead to six (58-52). Terrell Crawley’s corner three-pointer closed the gap to three with just over a minute remaining.

Carver continued to force the Panthers into foul trouble, as they were able to get to the line and sink five of their next seven points at the line. Charles City got late baskets from Coles and Bey to get within five, but the clock would expire before the Panthers could put any additional dents into the scoreboard.

After the contest, Mason applauded his team’s effort against a Carver team that escaped Charles City unbeaten.

“This game shows that we can be the best team in the district,” Mason commented. “We have to take care of the ball a little more and do the little things to be successful.

“The chemistry is coming along and we are getting better every game,” the coach continued. “Right now, they (Carver) are the best team in the district, but I think when it’s all finished, we will be right there.”

Charles City (4-4) received double digit scoring from Coles (20), Bey (16), and Stewart (12). Jones finished with seven, Crawley tossed in three, and Justin Post-Parada chipped in with two.