The United Way 6th Grade Boys' Basketball season came to a close on Saturday, March 14, 2009 as they were knocked out of the post-season double elimination tournament, losing 40-25 to Blue Cross/Blue Shield and 37-33 to Crites Title Company. With the losses United finishes with a 5-3 record.
Blue Cross won the championship, defeating Crites 25-23.
A broken wrist, a reinjured pulled groin, and a fever were the biggest reasons United ended up losing both of their games. Jackson Berg broke his wrist earlier in the week at a baseball practice, so he was completely unavailable to play. Lucas Carpenter, who pulled his groin last summer playing baseball and reinjured it at practice on Thursday, March 12, was not nearly as effective as he normally is. Malik Joyner showed up for the game running a temperature over 102 degrees, which his coach only learned about from Malik's mother at the conclusion of the second game.
United had a chance to take an early lead as Daniel Ferguson should have had 4 assists in United's first 4 possessions of the game, but Lucas Carpenter's and Malik Joyner's shots were all falling short as they both were struggling from the field. It was obvious that Lucas was in a lot of pain from his injury, and it affected his shot, as well as his defense. He ended up being shut out for the first time this season, going 0-5 from the field and 0-4 from the free throw line. Malik Joyner, too, failed to connect early on as he was unable to attack the basket and the boards as he normally does due to his weakness from the fever. Daniel Ferguson, seeing how his teammates were struggling, tried to do too much on his own on both ends of the court and he got into foul trouble trying to help out as the Blue Cross players were able to consistently drive by the injured legs of Lucas Carpenter and the slow Bobby Pearson. Daniel also turned the ball over 3 times in the opening period as he was trying to dribble between the double team that Blue Cross threw his way all the game. So instead of being up early, as they normally would have been with the easy shots they were getting, they found themselves down after 1 period of play trailing 22-4.
Malik Joyner seemed to catch a second wind in the 2nd quarter as United pulled a bit closer as they outscored Blue Cross 9-2 in the period. However, United was unable to pull any closer as they were on the short end of a 10-9 score in the 3rd period and a 10-3 score in the 4th.
The difference in the game really was the 1st period as United did manage to outscore Blue Cross in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th periods 21-18. United had its opportunities early on, but not only did they miss from the field as Daniel Ferguson was the only United player to make a bucket and score, they also missed all of their free throw opportunities. Lucas Carpenter went 0-4 from the charity stripe and Daniel Ferguson went 0-1 from the line. Malik Joyner was the lone bright spot at the free throw line, connecting on all 6 of his attempts in the game. United went 7 for 14 for the contest.
With the loss, United next faced Crites Title Company, who had advanced by defeating Conlin 37-12. United played much better in this game as both teams exchanged baskets to end the 1st period in a 6-6 tie. The offenses picked up for both teams in the 2nd quarter as United led at halftime 17-15. The third period came to a close with United nursing a 1 point lead 24-23. However, United seemed to run out of gas in the 4th period, which had been very good for United all season. Malik was obviously tiring out, and Daniel Ferguson was being hounded by double and triple coverage throughout the game. As the buzzer sounded United bowed out, losing 37-33.
United Way may have lost the games, but they played honorably. Crites played dirty as they threw elbows from the start of the game to the end, and they also committed intentional, flagrant fouls. It is unfortunate that they do not get called for these fouls as often as they should, although one was called in the overtime period in which these 2 teams played the previous week when Daniel Ferguson was shoved from behind getting knocked down to the floor following a steal. Ben Sheff took an elbow thrown deliberately into his throat in the contest played on the 14th, and the game had to be stopped for a few minutes in order for him to recover from the blow. No foul, however, was called.
Daniel Ferguson finished with 9 points in the first game as he went 4 for 12 from the field and 1 for 3 from the line. He had 1 assist, 2 steals, 7 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 5 turnovers. Malik Joyner, in spite of the fever, scored 14 points as he went 4 for 8 from the field in addition to his 6 for 6 from the charity stripe. He had 4 steals, 8 rebounds, 1 blocked shot and 4 turnovers.
In the last game, Daniel Ferguson scored 12 points as he went 4 for 11 from the field and 4 for 4 from the line. Malik Joyner had 11 points on 4 for 13 shooting from the field and 3 for 3 from the line. Lucas Carpenter added 6 points while Zachary Brooks and Sean Dawson both chipped in with 2 points each. Daniel Ferguson had 3 assists, 3 steals, 5 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 3 turnovers. Malik Joyner contributed with 2 assists, 2 steals, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots while committing just 1 turnover.
Sean Dawson's 2 baskets for the day were his first points of the season, which was really good to see.
Daniel Ferguson's stats for the season are as follows: 11.0 points per game; 4.4 steals per game; 7.4 rebounds per game; 2.3 blocked shots per game; 2.8 turnovers per game; and 3.3 assists per game. The average score per game was United 30.3, their opponents 27.0.
Blue Cross won the championship, defeating Crites 25-23.
A broken wrist, a reinjured pulled groin, and a fever were the biggest reasons United ended up losing both of their games. Jackson Berg broke his wrist earlier in the week at a baseball practice, so he was completely unavailable to play. Lucas Carpenter, who pulled his groin last summer playing baseball and reinjured it at practice on Thursday, March 12, was not nearly as effective as he normally is. Malik Joyner showed up for the game running a temperature over 102 degrees, which his coach only learned about from Malik's mother at the conclusion of the second game.
United had a chance to take an early lead as Daniel Ferguson should have had 4 assists in United's first 4 possessions of the game, but Lucas Carpenter's and Malik Joyner's shots were all falling short as they both were struggling from the field. It was obvious that Lucas was in a lot of pain from his injury, and it affected his shot, as well as his defense. He ended up being shut out for the first time this season, going 0-5 from the field and 0-4 from the free throw line. Malik Joyner, too, failed to connect early on as he was unable to attack the basket and the boards as he normally does due to his weakness from the fever. Daniel Ferguson, seeing how his teammates were struggling, tried to do too much on his own on both ends of the court and he got into foul trouble trying to help out as the Blue Cross players were able to consistently drive by the injured legs of Lucas Carpenter and the slow Bobby Pearson. Daniel also turned the ball over 3 times in the opening period as he was trying to dribble between the double team that Blue Cross threw his way all the game. So instead of being up early, as they normally would have been with the easy shots they were getting, they found themselves down after 1 period of play trailing 22-4.
Malik Joyner seemed to catch a second wind in the 2nd quarter as United pulled a bit closer as they outscored Blue Cross 9-2 in the period. However, United was unable to pull any closer as they were on the short end of a 10-9 score in the 3rd period and a 10-3 score in the 4th.
The difference in the game really was the 1st period as United did manage to outscore Blue Cross in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th periods 21-18. United had its opportunities early on, but not only did they miss from the field as Daniel Ferguson was the only United player to make a bucket and score, they also missed all of their free throw opportunities. Lucas Carpenter went 0-4 from the charity stripe and Daniel Ferguson went 0-1 from the line. Malik Joyner was the lone bright spot at the free throw line, connecting on all 6 of his attempts in the game. United went 7 for 14 for the contest.
With the loss, United next faced Crites Title Company, who had advanced by defeating Conlin 37-12. United played much better in this game as both teams exchanged baskets to end the 1st period in a 6-6 tie. The offenses picked up for both teams in the 2nd quarter as United led at halftime 17-15. The third period came to a close with United nursing a 1 point lead 24-23. However, United seemed to run out of gas in the 4th period, which had been very good for United all season. Malik was obviously tiring out, and Daniel Ferguson was being hounded by double and triple coverage throughout the game. As the buzzer sounded United bowed out, losing 37-33.
United Way may have lost the games, but they played honorably. Crites played dirty as they threw elbows from the start of the game to the end, and they also committed intentional, flagrant fouls. It is unfortunate that they do not get called for these fouls as often as they should, although one was called in the overtime period in which these 2 teams played the previous week when Daniel Ferguson was shoved from behind getting knocked down to the floor following a steal. Ben Sheff took an elbow thrown deliberately into his throat in the contest played on the 14th, and the game had to be stopped for a few minutes in order for him to recover from the blow. No foul, however, was called.
Daniel Ferguson finished with 9 points in the first game as he went 4 for 12 from the field and 1 for 3 from the line. He had 1 assist, 2 steals, 7 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 5 turnovers. Malik Joyner, in spite of the fever, scored 14 points as he went 4 for 8 from the field in addition to his 6 for 6 from the charity stripe. He had 4 steals, 8 rebounds, 1 blocked shot and 4 turnovers.
In the last game, Daniel Ferguson scored 12 points as he went 4 for 11 from the field and 4 for 4 from the line. Malik Joyner had 11 points on 4 for 13 shooting from the field and 3 for 3 from the line. Lucas Carpenter added 6 points while Zachary Brooks and Sean Dawson both chipped in with 2 points each. Daniel Ferguson had 3 assists, 3 steals, 5 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 3 turnovers. Malik Joyner contributed with 2 assists, 2 steals, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots while committing just 1 turnover.
Sean Dawson's 2 baskets for the day were his first points of the season, which was really good to see.
Daniel Ferguson's stats for the season are as follows: 11.0 points per game; 4.4 steals per game; 7.4 rebounds per game; 2.3 blocked shots per game; 2.8 turnovers per game; and 3.3 assists per game. The average score per game was United 30.3, their opponents 27.0.
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