| - video by Jim P. |
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Harvison puts together a Triple-Double in WA Boys A win at Chico |
SILVERALE, Wash. – I will admit it. I almost went home early.
If I had, I would have missed the Warren Ave (WA) Boys A Knights dominate 43-to-28 victory against Chico Boys A Black. I would have missed Dshawn Harvison’s incredible triple-double performance. I would also have missed Darajahmaraeh McClain’s double-double outing.
Monday (Mar. 12) night at Central Kitsap Middle School in Silverdale, Wash., all of the pieces that have been so fragmented this season came together for the Knights and they earned their second win of the 2018 Kitsap Co. Pee Wee Basketball season.
For a while, it appeared that the game would not happen. At game time, Warren Ave only had four players in the gym. Notably absent was the team’s #2 scorer, Marqkeith Ellison (7.4 points per game).
The game first got setback four minutes, then delayed an additional eight minutes. Right before the buzzer, the fifth Knight, Izaiah Martin, walked into the gym and the game was on. His ride got the direction mixed up and they went to the wrong gym.
It was evident from the opening tip that the ‘Knights Five’ had brought something special to this game.
They started by holding Chico scoreless through the first half of the opening period and sprinted to a 12-to-0 lead before their opponent scored its first basket.
By halftime, Warren Ave lead 25-to-8 and Harvison already had 15 points (pts), 11 rebounds (reb), and 7 steals (stl) in the book. He would end the game with 17 pts, 18 reb, 11 stl, and 7 blocked shots.
But do not assume it was the Warren Ave Harvison show.
In the post-game interview, Harvison pointed out the keys to the team’s success. “Have fun, work as a team, don’t argue, listen to coach, and just play ball.”
He couldn’t have been more correct in his assessment.
The 'Knights Five' victory was a team effort. Most notably on the defensive end of the floor, a place they have meandered at in their eight previous losses.
Together, Harvison and McClain set the defensive tone of the game, grabbing 11 steals each. The team’s season-high of 27 thefts obliterated the old record of 16 steals, accomplish at the North Perry game on Mar. 7th.
Additionally, their team record-setting thirty defensive rebounds and thirteen blocked shot sent a message to Chico, “don’t come in the paint and you only get one shot attempt.” Harvison led the team with 7 blocks and 12 defensive rebounding and teammate Ethan Trerise followed right behind with 4 blocks and 14 rebounds.
Coach Mike Lewis agreed with Harvison's game assessment. “Good defense, discipline, and hard work in practice” brought about the win.
An unexpected benefit for the defense-minded Knights was more scoring opportunities. Typically, they average 44.0 field goal attempts per game. In this game, they took sixty-four shots from the floor, a new season benchmark.
Warren Ave was also very good at the free throw line, converting 9 of 11 attempts (82%).
What they weren’t very good at was shooting from behind the 3-point arc. In the eighty-eight-minute contest they rolled a donut, going 0-for-7 from long range. Which proves, you don’t need three-point baskets to win a basketball game.
Don’t discard Harvison's triple-double or McClain's double-double (15 pts and 11 stl) performances as “it was only a Pee Wee game.” Only one other Bremerton basketball player in this 2017-18 basketball season has recorded a triple-double. That is through two hundred and twenty-nine high school, middle school, and pee wee games.
On Feb. 7th, WA Boys AA Gold point guard Miles Gurske put together a 21 pts, 10 reb, and 11 ast game against NK-Suquamish.
This night, McClain, Harvison, Trerise, Isiah Fredriksen (6 pts, 6 reb, 1 blk, 2 st) and Martin (3 pts, 7 reb, 1 blk, 2 stl) were the ‘Knights Five’ and played a fabulous basketball game. A game they will remember.
Two games remain in the WA Boys A season.
Wednesday (Mar. 14), Warren Ave travels to Ridgetop Middle School to play Chico Boys A Red.
Thursday (Mar. 15), the Knights will be at home, Mountain View Middle School, for their final contest against North Mason.
Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
| - video by Jim P. |
