Wise Serves Notice With Board Game Crown

Ron Bailey, Publisher

June 25, 2007 – At their palatial gymnasium in Upper Marlboro, MD, the Henry Wise Cougars secured this year’s Maryland/D.C./Virginia Board Games tournament title yesterday via a convincing 50-34 margin over Archbishop Carroll (D.C), a team many Washington area high school hoops fans have anointed the probable 2007 - 2008 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champion. If the game and tournament are any measure of what’s to come, not only should Wise be considered a serious local and state challenger, but the Prince George’s County 4A and 3A leagues have served notice that the best D.C. area boy’s high school hoops may exist in that jurisdiction.

Wise's MD/DC/VA Board Game winning squad.

After a consolation game in which Eleanor Roosevelt defeated Gwynn Park 37-27 – PG 4A and 3A schools respectively - with rising junior Lasan Kromah (18 points) and senior to be Chase Smith (8 points) leading the school offensively to victory, the championship game’s stage was set. Adding to the public versus private setting, was a bit of personal drama, as Carroll’s rising sophomore point guard Daryl Trayham (16 points) functioned in the same capacity last year at Wise.

But it would be another transfer, Jason Burns (12 points) that set the game’s tone: The former WCAC and Bishop O’Connell student-athlete who has nestled into Wise for his senior year, scored two quick fast break baskets. Feeding off his energy, quick senior guard Antoine Brown (11 points) soon thereafter hit a stop and pop jumper, giving Wise an 11-1 lead.

For Burns, his performance is hopefully a harbinger of things to come. “I like it, the school, the atmosphere, the team, everybody” said Burns of his acclimation, before continuing “I think this was sort of a break out game”.

According to Wise’s summer league and regular season assistant coach, Derrick Robinson, the team’s penchant for pushing the rock is by design. “We’ve been stressing the whole tournament” he noted, “that we play that style of basketball...most definitely we run like that”.

Slowing the game ever-so-slightly would be defensive deployments, with Wise continuing to implement a 2-2-1 press that trapped Trayham in particular at half court, while Carroll employed a 2-3 zone, causing Wise to become slightly more hesitant in half court settings.

Kris Joseph at the line shooting, with Daryl Trayham looking on.

After leading 22-13 at intermission, Wise expanded their lead by again utilizing that 2-2-1 picked up ¾ court or at times defending the whole court man to man, with Brown and senior transfer Donald Williams (9 points) leading the way. Both attacked the rim offensively, in additon to Brown functioning as the fast, steady floor general, while Williams hit a three pointer and played tenacious defense.

“It took years to develop”, said Brown of his quickness and court sense, which Robinson, the coach, has grown to expect, as he believes “Antonio is capable of playing like that, at a very high level”.

Carroll’s dynamic, Syracuse University-bound rising senior swingman Kris Joseph (11 points) attempted to bring his team back into contention by attacking the rim on several possessions via isolation plays, and the ever savvy Trayham not only drove to the cup, but successfully drew two foul calls in a way that belies his young age.

Nevertheless, Wise walked away victorious. Brown, the team’s captain, summed the squad’s feelings on the win succinctly. “We are happy” said the gutsy leader, because of “the name of the team and because Daryl used to play here”.

Watch out D.C., the Puma’s are on the prowl.

The third place Roosevelt High School crew. WCAC schools such as DeMatha and MacNamara were both bested by Prince George's County, MD public high schools.