Boys Basketball: DuVal 77, C.H. Flowers 62

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By James A. McCray III
Prince George's County, Content Manager

Each member of the DuVal Tigers boys' basketball team is much too young to enter a casino and gamble.

However, in Friday night's contest on the road against the C.H. Flowers Jaguars, the Tigers did just that -- gambled.

DuVal took chances on the defensive side of the ball often jumping in passing lanes, getting steals, and earning easy baskets en route to a 77-62 victory, its second victory in as many nights.

Fueling the strong defensive effort may have been the fact that Flowers defeated DuVal in each of the teams' season openers on Dec. 12, 62-56.

Although DuVal did not play three of its starters in that particular game, the loss was still in the thoughts of the DuVal players.

"It was a must win," DuVal's Colin Beatty said. "We lost to them the first time so we were on get-back today. Everybody was focused and ready to play and we just took care of business."

After DuVal (9-4 overall, 7-4 Prince George's County 4A) took the lead at 4-3 early in the first quarter, the Tigers never relinquished the lead again.

That can be attributed to the team's attitude coming into the night; according to DuVal head coach Artie Walker.

"My kids were really focused today," Walker explained. "We have not been focused like that for two halves this year. We usually focus for the first half and lose that focus in the second, or we are not focused in the first half and then focus in the second. In this game, we were focused throughout."

DuVal's focused mentality, combined with its strong defensive effort, and finished off with a strong offensive output across the board -- five different players scored in double figures -- led to a win for the Tigers.

Beatty led the way with 18 points as teammates Gary Martin and Keith Crocket each netted 13, and James Brown and De'ante Cannon each added 10, respectively.

Even with the offensive efforts, it all boils down to defense for the Tigers.

"We played really good defensively," Martin said. " ... We were playing our passing lanes and getting in it. We got a lot of hands in [the passing lanes], and we were able to control the ball and turn defense into offense."

"When my guys are focused on defense," Walker added, "we are as good as anybody. I am not saying we are the best, but we are as good as anybody in the state."

Kyle Jackson put on a shooting display for Flowers (6-7 overall) as he led all scorers with 24 points on the night, knocking down five shots from behind the arc.

Teammate Davon Morris was the only other Jaguars player in double digits, respectively.

The loss is Flowers' fourth consecutive.

tmccray@digitalsports.com

DuVal 77, C.H. Flowers 62
DuVal     --     21   21   17   18; Beatty 18, Martin 13, Crocket 13, Brown 10, Cannon 10, Bush 7, Nickens-Dempsey 6
Flowers   --     8    14   16   24; Jackson 24, Morris 12, House 6, De. Campbell 6, Evans 5, Martin 4, Johnson 3, Majors 2