Stuart Coach Antonio Harris tells his players to bring it in during their playoff victory over Wakefield.
By Jimmy Thomas
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com
Check below the story for video highlights
Stuart defeated Wakefield, 70-47, at home Tuesday night in the first round of the National District tournament. The win not only puts the Raiders into Wednesday night's semifinal round against top-seeded Mount Vernon, but also assures them an automatic berth into the upcoming Northern Region tournament as well.
"I think we played very well," Stuart Coach Antonio Harris said. "We came out playing physical. The kids came to play and they knocked down their free throws. I think we were ready and prepared."
Stuart saw four players reach double-figures in scoring, led by junior forward
Mahamed Ibrahim with 16. Sophomore guard
Antonio Harris and junior guard
William Ford also scored 15 a piece while junior center
Raymond Watson added 13.
The Warriors, meanwhile, were led by seniors
Reggie Williams and
Alex Henderson, who scored 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Wednesday's match-up will mark the third time this season that Stuart and Mount Vernon have squared off. The Majors won both contests, the first one in double over-time and the second one coming back to win after a double-digit, first-half deficit.
When asked what it would take to win and advance to the National District finals, Coach Harris rattled off a long, but attainable, list.
"It will take a good shooting night," he said. "Slow down [standout Mount Vernon guard
Marquel]
De Lancey, box out and rebound. We are young but we have to suck it up, knock down some shots and play great defense."
Email: jthomas@digitalsports.com
Stuart 10 23 16 21--70
Wakefield 4 16 12 15--47
Stuart -- Ford 1 12-17 14; Harris 4 5-5 15; Zaman 1 2-2 4; Ibrahim 7 2-2 16; Watson 4 5-6 13: Champ 2 2-2 6; Essim 1 0-0 2. Team Totals: 20 28-33 70. Wakefield -- Dickerson 1 1-3 3; Getu 1 0-0 2; Oliveira 2 0-4 4; Mathis 2 0-0 4; Williams 4 7-8 15; Taylor 1 0-0 2; Goffney 0 1-5 1; Levenberry 1 0-0 2; Henderson 6 2-6 14. Team Totals: 18 11-23 47. Three Pointers -- Stuart 2 (Harris).