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By Angela Watts
Assistant GM, Washington D.C. Metro Area
** Click the links above to access a full photo gallery and dozens of video highlights from Friday's game!
There is something about the way that Stuart huddles together -- whether it's for pre-game speeches or during time outs -- that speaks volumes about the bond this team shares.
No one stands apart or, for that matter, even stands up.
As Coach Tony Harris kneels before the starters, who are seated on the bench, the players link arms and circle together, hovering just above their coach in a display of unique closeness.
"There's something about this team," Harris said.
And the result is one of the best seasons in recent memory for Stuart, which improved to 13-2 overall Friday night with a resounding, 76-66 victory over host Wakefield.
"Every victory gives us more and more confidence," he added. "We really think we can get it done every night that we show up. When we lose, we think we should have won. And when we win, we think we should have won bigger.
"There's just a lot of confidence going on throughout our team and the whole community ... and we're just loving it and having a good time with it."
Friday's victory at Wakefield (12-5 overall, 4-3 National District) was particularly gratifying for the Raiders. That's because just over a month ago the Warriors got a last-second shot by senior Jonathan Ford to pull off a come-from-behind, 68-67 victory over the then-host Raiders (13-2, 5-2).
"We marked this game on our schedule right after that game," said junior guard Antonio Harris, who is also, of course, Coach Harris' son. "It was a hard loss and we just wanted to come back strong and show everybody that that wasn't our best game. And I think we came out here and showed it today."
Wakefield jumped to a quick, 15-5 lead late in the first quarter, but Stuart did not panic. Instead, the Raiders slowly chipped away at that margin and had pulled within 30-27 at half time.
Stuart took its first lead with 5 minutes, 34 seconds left in the third quarter when Antonio Harris hit a three-pointer and was fouled -- converting the unconventional four-point play.
Harris, who hit 17-of-19 foul shots in the game, gave the Raiders' a 40-37 lead on the play and finished with a game-high 29 points.
But he wasn't the only Raider who shined. Senior guard William Ford not only displayed exceptional ball-handing skills but also totaled 17 points. And senior forward Mahamed Ibrahim contributed both key rebounds -- and big three-pointers.
"We're a great three-point shooting team," Coach Harris said. "We work on it a lot and the guys are confident now. They play hard.
"We have a lot of talented players, people just don't know them because it's Stuart and we don't have a reputation for being a powerhouse or a traditional basketball school.
"But I think we've got some great players, some great kids and they're great students."
The Raiders continued to extend their lead throughout the fourth quarter, taking their largest lead of the game, 58-47, on a three-pointer by Ibrahim -- with a hand in his face -- with 4:13 to play.
In all Stuart totaled six three-pointers and, as a team, shot 77 percent from the foul line, hitting 34-of-44 attempts.
"It's tough," Wakefield Coach Tony Bentley said. "We've been in that situation with them before. The first time we played them we were down and came back. Tonight, they hit their free throws. They went to the free-throw line like 45 times tonight -- which is unheard of. But if the referees are going to make those calls then you can't blame them."
Ford paced Wakefield with a team-high 14 points, while sophomore guard Thomas Taylor scored 12 and senior guard Jerod Brown added 10.
But this night belonged to the Raiders.
"We know that people are going to come at us because they think we're going to fold because we haven't been a winning program," Coach Harris said. "But, again, these kids are tough, they listen ... I have so much respect for them and they respect me. They follow what I ask them to do.
"And so far ... it's working."
Stuart 9 18 21 28 -- 76
Wakefield 15 15 13 23 -- 66
Stuart: Harris 5 17-19 29; Ford 3 10-10 17; Ibrahim 4 1-2 11; Watson 4 0-0 8; Kaissouni 1 1-2 4; Zaman 1 206 4; Kosh 0 2-4 2; Bernoukh 0 1-1 1. Team totals: 18 34-44 76. Wakefield: Ford 4 5-6 14; Taylor 4 4-4 12; Brown 3 4-6 10; Goffney 2 4-4 8; Getu 3 0-0 7; Harris 3 1-2 7; Levenberry 2 0-0 4; Allen 1 0-2 2; Denny 1 0-0 2. Team totals: 23 18-24 66. Three-pointers: Stuart 6 (Harris 2, Ibrahim 2, Ford, Kaissouni); Wakefield 1 (Getu).
