On Wednesday, January 16th we had the Mountain Pointe (MP) Pride (9-8) visiting the McClintock Chargers (6-16). Two very interesting teams with potential, but just haven’t consistently put it together just yet.
The return of 6-foot-6 junior PF Chris Davis and 6-foot-3 junior SG Jalen Brown had Mountain Pointe liking their chances the rest of the season, while the emergence of two McClintock freshmen have helped the Chargers in many games this year.
Mountain Pointe 6-foot-3 junior forward Emmanuel Butler started it off with an offensive rebound/lay-up for a 2 to 0 lead for MP. Then 5-foot-9 junior PG Malik Sanders scored on a driving lay-up to tie it at 2 all. Malik Sanders unfortunately got injured on the play, and didn’t return - causing McClintock to rely more on their freshmen earlier then expected.
McClintock's 6-foot-1 senior PG Ben Quevas then finished a fast break lay-up with 3 minutes to go in a slow first quarter for a 4 to 3 McClintock lead.
On the next possession there was a beautiful assist by 5-foot-9 freshman PG Malique Washington to 6-foot-3 junior forward Kwenton Scott for a basket, then a steal and lay-up by 5-foot-10 freshman PG Amiri Chukwuemeka for an 8 to 3 McClintock lead. Then after another turnover by MP and a three-pointer in the corner by Amiri for an 11 to 3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started and Chris Davis checked in and immediately blew by his man to get to the free-throw line, and made one free-throw for an 11 to 4 McClintock lead. Then Davis hit a lay-up for a 13 to 8 lead. After a three-pointer by Jalen Brown, McClintock's lead would fall to two-points, 13-11.
After a lay-up for McClintock's Cuevas with 5 minutes left to play, Davis would go to work again for an “and-1” for a 15 to 14 McClintock lead.
McClintock's Amiri then hit a lay-up for a 17 to 14 lead after many turnovers in a row by both teams. The game would get very sloppy, but both teams would compete hard, until a blow-by layup by McClintock's Washington would make the score 19 to 14 in the Charger's favor.
MP's 6-foot-1 senior guard Khari Holloway made his presence felt with a basket, and then Washington scored again for a 21 to 16 game. Then on the next play, Brown hit a jumper, and then Holloway scored a mid-range shot, after a score from McClintock, for a 23 to 20 lead for McClintock.
Points would soon pour in almost at will for both teams - looking like a club game, but with very efficient play by both teams offensively.
After two free-throws from Brown, he would then make a three-pointer to give Mountain Pointe their first lead of the game. After an “and-1” for Holloway, Mountain Pointe would jump out to a 28 to 23 lead - finishing the half on a 8-0 run.
Brown had 10 points at the half for MP and Amiri Chukwuemeka had 7 points for McClintock.
The first play of the third period would be an alley-oop dunk to Davis for a 30 to 23 lead for MP. Holloway and Amiri exchanged baskets for a 32 to 25 lead for MP. Davis then hit a circus shot in traffic for a 34 to 25 lead, and Holloway scored another “and-1” for a 39 to 25 lead for MP - their biggest lead of the night.
BJ Cuevas and Brown exchanged free-throws for a 40 to 26 lead, followed by Amiri, who made a full-court pass on the run to 5-foot-11 sophomore guard James Spears for a 40 to 28 lead for MP.
Daivs threw down another dunk for a 42 to 28 lead, followed by an assist from Cuevas to Scott for a lay-up for a 42 to 30 MP lead. Amiri made a beautiful floater, and then another dunk by Davis for a 44 to 32 MP lead. Davis then threw down another dunk from a real nice Brown assist to go up 46 to 36 for MP.
Chris Davis would put on a show for the crowd. He has to be one of the most athletic players in the state. He is a fun player to watch. It looked like I was watching his personal you-tube video in the game.
A few plays later, Washington hit a three-pointer in the corner after one free-throw was made for a 47 to 39 lead for MP. Then two more free-throws made by Davis for a 49 to 39 MP lead.
Malique hit a pull-up jumper, then another three-pointer by Brown for a 52 to 41 MP lead.
McClintock would not give up, as BJ Cuevas made a lay-up with 5 minutes to go, but he would soon leave the game with an injury. Cuevas would not return to the game - walking into the gym on crutches. All the attention would then turn to the two freshmen for McClintock in their comeback.
Davis then scored a hard bucket down low for a 54 to 44 lead for MP. Then Holloway hit a mid-range shot for a 56 to 45 lead for MP. Mountain Pointe 6-foot-1 senior forward Tre Campbell then threw down a hard dunk to go up 58 to 46 for the Pride.
Amiri made a reverse lay-up for a 58 to 48 MP lead with 2 minutes left to play. Then backcourt mate Malique hit another three-pointer in the corner for a 58 to 51 lead with 1:30 left in the game. The two freshmen were showing some fight in them.
Holloway made two free-throws for a 60 to 51 lead, then Battle hit a lay-up for a 60 to 53 lead. But MP's Jalen Brown would make consecutive lay-ups for a 64 to 53 lead with :25 seconds left in the game. Then Jalen Brown would make an exclamation point in the game for a dunk and a 66 to 55 Mountain Pointe lead.
The final score was 68 to 59 for a win for Mountain Pointe. Chris Davis had 21 points and 4 blocks, Jalen Brown had 20 points and Khari Holloway had 19 points in the win for Mountain Pointe. The “big 3” had 60 of the 68 MP points for an impressive win on the road. They really look like a sleeper team for the state playoffs.
Malique had 13 points, 3 assists and 4 steals and Amiri had a team-high 20 points for McClintock - two impressive freshmen for the future backcourt for the Chargers.
Quick Hitters: The Mointain Pointe freshman team were impressive, led by 5-foot-7 PG Isaiah Butler. He’s an elite passer who is extremely quick. He had 13 points and an impressive 11 assists.
