On Friday night, the varsity boy’s basketball team continued the long-standing rivalry tradition against Male, battling through a physical and high energy matchup that ended in a 66-56 win for the Crimsons.
First half:
The Crimsons opened the game with possession as Deshawn McGee (#23, 12) controlled the first touch, but both teams played defensively. Early fouls sent players to the free throw line, yet neither side converted, keeping the game scoreless through the first two minutes.
Manual broke the scoring drought midway through the first quarter, but Male responded with a one successful free throw after a foul from Manual, making the score 2-1. After the bulldogs quickly controlled the ball, setting up a fast passing play throughout the three point line, they successfully found an open spot, earning them a layup. Manual countered with a layup but fouled after trying to control the ball, giving Male another free throw but one was unsuccessful, tying the game 4-4.
Fouls became a significant factor as both teams rotated through the free throw line. Manual capitalized on theirs, pulling ahead 6-4. Male answered with quick ball control to a layup to tie the game again at 6-6. Manual began pushing the pace, McGee running the ball down the court for a three-point shot to make it 9-6.
Strong defensive pressure followed, Ahmad Shelton (#11, 12) and Georffrey Njogu (#4,12) forced a turnover that led to another Manual basket, extending the lead to 11-6 and forcing a timeout.
When play resumed, Male worked the ball around the three point line, finding an open teammate near the corner and closing down the lead to 11-9. After another foul made by the Crimsons, Male hit one free throw. Soon after Male’s ball control allowed them to have possession of the ball and took the lead with a layup, 12-11.
The second quarter began with Manual briefly struggling to find open looks, allowing Male to stretch the lead to 17-11 after a steal and layup. Momentum shifted when Mark Woods (#15, 12) drained a three pointer, bringing the score to 17-14. Manual tightened its defense, with Jeremiah Stephens (#5, 11) and Leslie Hall (#33, 11) boxing out opponents near the basket and effectively limiting their second chance opportunities.
With 38 seconds left in the quarter, Manual drained three pointers between Woods and McGee to extend the lead to 30-26. Male attempted for a last second shot but came up short, the first half ended with Manual ahead 30-26.
During halftime, the step team performed an energetic routine, keeping the crowd engaged and the rivalry atmosphere alive.
Second half:
Male started the third quarter with possession, slowing the pace to set up their offense, but struggled against Manual’s defensive pressure. Led by Shelton and McGee, Manual scored early to make it 32-26, improving their ball control after shooting compared to the first half.
Male continued to fight back, converting free throws and hitting three pointers with a good play strategy of taking it slow until an open opportunity, closing the gap to 37-31. The teams traded layups in a fast-paced back-and-forth stretch between both ends of the court, bringing the score to 39-33.
After the Bulldogs hit another shot to make it 39-36, momentum shifted. Shelton stole the ball after the Bulldogs played and ran it down for a successful lay up, but Male tied the game at 41-41, following a steal and quickly running it down to their goal. The crowds erupted as the rivalry intensity peaked.
Manual responded immediately with an open shot to retake the lead. Strong defense and successful free throws pushed the score to 45-41. Shelton kept Manual composure, recovering missed throws and passing to open players, a late layup just before the buzzer gave Manual a 51-42 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
“We started off kind of slow, but once we got going in the second half, we really got to going everywhere and on everyone. So I felt good during the second half,” Shelton said.
The final quarter was competitive, but the Crimsons controlled it. Although Male narrowed the gap to 52-49, Njogu quickly stole the ball and finished a layup. Crimsons displayed coordinated plays between Woods, Dario Harper (#1, 10) and Njogu to extend the lead.
With the last couple minutes left in the game, both teams did not let their guard down. Free throws proved crucial, Woods and Harper combined to convert multiple trips to the three point line stretching the score to 61-51 with just over a minute remaining.
Multiple timeouts from both teams allowed them to think through strategies, helping Male add a late three pointer after play resumed, but Manual continued to capitalize on transition opportunities and defensive stops.
With 18 seconds left, the student section stood on its feet as Woods calmly held possession, running down the clock. As the final buzzer sounded, the crowds erupted and the Crimsons secured a 66-56 victory, fueled by disciplined defense and relentless energy from start to finish.
“[The game] was great, great atmosphere, student section, and plays. Great student sections for Male as well, that’s what got me right up,” Woods said.
