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| Douglass' Justin Mays talks about the win and the winning free throws. | |||||
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***Be sure to click the VIDEOS link above for video highlights and interviews***
By James A. McCray III
Prince George's County, Content Manager
Redemption is a word usually not associated with the playoffs. There is no extra game for a team to redeem itself, and no extra game for a player to do the same.
However, as scarce as opportunities for redemption may be, Frederick Douglass Eagles boys' basketball player Justin Mays was given a chance to redeem himself in Tuesday night's 62-57 2A South quarter-final victory over the third-seeded North Point Eagles.
With just under 1 minute remaining, and Douglass leading only 58-57, Mays went to the free throw line for the front end of a one-and-one. The shot bounced off of the front of the rim, and North Point secured the ball and proceeded down court for an offensive possession.
As North Point came away with no points, Mays was fouled yet again and went back to the free throw line with his team still leading by a single point and 28.3 seconds remaining on the game clock.
"I was kind of nervous," Mays admitted, "but in practice every day that is the first thing we do when we step in the gym. We know it is going to come down to free throws. ... I couldn't let my team down. I am a senior leader on this team, and we are trying to get a state ring before we get out of here."
Mays did not let his team down converting on his two free throws to increase the lead to 60-57, and subsequently knocked down two more with less than 10 seconds remaining to secure the victory, much to the joy of Douglass head coach Tyrone Massenberg.
Massenberg, before speaking on the game, wanted to pay respects to former Suitland football head coach and athletic director Nick Lynch who was killed earlier this year in a car accident.
"First and foremost, my guardian angel coach Lynch is always looking out," the coach said. "That energy tonight came from him; he is definitely shining on my team."
On Mays' performance, Massenberg went on to add: "Justin stepped up and did the things that he usually does. I just ask him to play hard and leave it all out on the floor and see what happens from there."
North Point (16-7 overall) tied the game at 55 on a Jaris Alleyne three-point play with 3 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in the game.
However, Douglass' Eric Washington knocked down a three-pointer on the following possession to give Douglass a 58-55 lead and Douglass would not relinquish the lead again.
Alleyne was one of seven seniors to be a part of North Point's first-ever senior class in school and program history, a year North Point head coach Jimmy Ball and the program is sure to remember.
"This was an enjoyable year," Ball said. " ... This is the first senior class and they will always be remembered as the first senior class. The one thing I told them was that they had to put something on that [banner] wall so you can always say you put that there. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to do that with this class. But, I like what we have coming back and we are going to be alright."
Alleyne finished with a game-high 20 points on the night.
Leading the way for Douglass in terms of scoring was Solomon Fennell as he was a presence under the basket with a team-high 16 points. Teammate Timmone Whatley also pitched in 14 points in the winning effort and had his own thoughts on the redemption of Mays to help the Eagles to victory.
"The first one he missed and I told him, 'Boy, keep your head up, this is our game to win if you hit these,'" Whatley said.
Douglass, a No. 11 seed in the 2A South, will now face Gwynn Park in the 2A South semifinals.
"Right now, we are just like a boxer," Massenberg said of going into the semifinals. "We have a fighter's chance every game and we are just punching every game. With the spirit we have and the energy we are playing with, we just hope we can continue."
E-mail: James A. McCray III
Frederick Douglass 62, North Point 57
Douglass -- 14 16 19 13; Fennell 16, Whatley 14, Washington 12, Mays 10, Murray 6, Bonhom 2, Glover 2
North Point -- 14 16 20 7 ; Alleyne 20, Lawrence 11, Hester-Moses 9, Burke 7, Satchell 5, Thomas 3, Thompson 2
