Barnes’ 31 points leads Panthers to Senior Night win, snaps 10-game losing skid

Charles City's Gavin Stewart (4) is able to drain a fadeaway basket over Carver Academy's Jamari Willis (5).

Robb Johnson photo

While the script for Charles City’s boys’ basketball season hasn’t gone the way they had hoped for in the season, the final act was a masterpiece at home thanks to team play and hot shooting from a junior guard.

Damian Barnes Jr. scored 31 points as the Panthers upended the visiting Carver Academy Wolverines 75-56 during the Feb. 13 Senior Night victory for the Panthers, ending a 10-game losing skid.

The game started off strong with senior guard Gavin Stewart draining a three for the Panthers. After a score by Carver, Barnes drained what would be the first of five three-pointers on the night. Stewart scored another basket and classmate Shane Jones helped the Panthers with a lay-in to lift Charles City to a 23-19 lead after the first quarter. Charles City managed to keep the lead, with Barnes third three-pointer closing out the first half and giving the Panthers a 39-31 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Charles City started moving the ball against Carver’s defense. Jones began to attack the basket, scoring 11 second half points for the Panthers and pushing the hosts lead into the double digits. In the fourth quarter, Barnes broke the 30-point plateau with a floater in the lane with just under 90 seconds remaining in the contest. By the time his basket went through the basket, the Panthers were firmly in control for the win.

After the contest, Charles City Head Coach De’Quantae Mason spoke about his team’s focus in the contest and coming out with the victory.

“This team gave a lot of effort, and it feels good to beat Carver,” Mason commented. “No matter what we went through this season, we are going to stay together.

“We are going to finish this season strong, even though we don’t have a road to the postseason.”

Joining Barnes in double figures was Jones, who finished with 18, and Stewart who tossed in 10. Senior Terrell Crawley pumped in eight, and classmate Sherod Barnes scored five. Rounding up the scoring was Victor Torrence who chipped in with three.

Charles City will be in a rebuild next year, as Jones, Crawley, Stewart, and Sherod Barnes are all set to graduate.