SSSA gives Episcopal a ‘L’

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Saints repel their neighborhood rivals.

January 16, 2012 - Students at St. Stephens/St. Agnes School rushed the court in celebration at the conclusion of the institution’s game with Alexandria, VA neighbor and rival Episcopal last night. Doing so is the wont of both high school and college fans nationally. Unfortunately for the Saints’ supporters, 1.2 seconds remained on the clock. Fortunately for them, the 54-52 score held, securing a hard fought victory.

Cam Gregory with the game winner.

It could have easily gone the other way: With but 49 seconds to play, Episcopal’s junior forward Greg Malinowski took a key charge for the Maroon, continuing his second half, solid all around play. Malinowski's teammate, senior, Fairfield University bound guard Doug Chappell scored soon after, knotting the score.

With tension and the game’s outcome in the air, SSSA inbounded the ball, and in what turned out to be a scatter court situation, junior forward Cameron Gregory scored and was fouled with 5.2 seconds for the Saints. He didn’t make the accompanying and-one, but the damage was done, game won.

“For real, it was great defense from Episcopal and Greg (Malinowski)” said Gregory of the play, which was initially well defended. After initially being denied, some contact was made in the normal course of play, resulting in (junior guard) Jordan Hunter seeing him and threading “a good pass” to the cutting Gregory.

He finished with 20 points for the victors, sophomore guard Travis Light dropped 14 points. Episcopal’s Malinowski and Chappell scored 17 and 16 points, respectively. The Maroon is 6-6 overall, 1-2 in the Interstate Athletic Association.

“It was our most contested win of the year” said head coach Ron Ginyard of the victory, which brings his team to 2-2 in the IAC, 11-4 overall. Gregory thought the win was the biggest of the year, “So far”.

Recruiting Updates:

Greg Malinowski – A 6’5”, 210 pound swingman that shoots, rebounds, passes and scores around the rim, Malinowski is getting recruiting love from Patriot League, Southern Conference and Colonial Association schools, in addition to Ivy League institutions.

In terms of development, he must continue his ball handling work, as well as lateral quickness, thereby allowing him to flourish on the perimeter in college.

Cameron Gregory – a 6’8” junior WCAC transfer, Gregory seems to excel from mid-range, where he can get hot and deadly. Athletic and at times active, he’s received scholarship offers from Holy Cross, Fairfield, Kennesaw State, Brown, Boston University, Bucknell and Mercy. American and Princeton are monitoring him.

Gregory must rebound and finish with strength more consitiently for college. Ginyard, his coach, expounded on the latter, noting “It’s a matter of him learning - for him - how to finish around the rim” and “how to use his strength”; in the estimation of SSSA’s leader, Gregory, who weighs around 215 pounds is already strong, but doesn’t maximize it at times.