In a game with multiple lead changes and a strong finish, the GDS men’s varsity basketball team defeated McLean School, 69-59, in a drawn-out fight on Friday, Jan. 17.
The men’s varsity basketball team had a strong start but it was the team’s dominant fourth-quarter display that gave them the win. They came into the game with a record of 2-7, which improved to 3-7 after this game.
Juniors Kyle Britton and Jacob Contee were unable to play in this game due to injury and sickness, respectively. This was also the first game back for senior Tigin Unsal and sophomore Rafriel Guthrie, who had been out with injuries. Assistant coach Garrett Milam said that the team got “a big energy boost from [Guthrie] and Tigin coming back in today’s game.”
The beginning of the game was a strong start for GDS. The game kicked off with senior Christian Santos Silva scoring the first point, followed by a three-point shot by junior Julian Lucas, putting the score at 5-0. GDS’ defense held off McLean from scoring for half of the first quarter. Eventually, McLean responded with a three-pointer, followed by a layup to tie the game at 5-5. GDS quickly took the lead and, after some back and forth points and an impressive driving layup by Unsal, the score was 17-13. Santos Silva finished the first quarter with a remarkable defensive blocked shot, leaving the score at 17-13, with GDS in the lead.
In the second quarter, junior Khalin Patel was injured while attempting a layup. Sophomore Arjun Bhargava then got a steal and scored a shot on the fast break. McLean responded with multiple free throws and one three-pointer. Guthrie then made a three-pointer. McLean made a three-point shot and a layup, making the score 22-17. After trading shots, a powerful block by sophomore Jibril Nashid and turnovers from GDS, the score was 31-29 going into halftime, with McLean in the lead.
McLean started the third quarter with a three-pointer, but Bhargava immediately answered with a corner three-point shot, followed by Nashid making two free throws, adding up to 40-34, with McLean still in the lead. GDS then went on a 16-10 run, ending the third quarter with the game tied at 50-50.
The score was tied for a majority of the fourth quarter. Nashid scored the first point of the quarter with a three-point shot, followed by two free-throws by Patel and a layup by sophomore Caleb Clark to make the score 57-50. McLean answered with a three-pointer. In a big defensive play, Lucas stole the ball from McLean, passing it to Guthrie, who made a layup on the fast break. The final score of the game was 69-59, giving GDS the win.
Head coach Marquis Bell noted that this game was their “best game of execution,” which is what they have been working on in practice. Bell also said he wanted Santos Silva and Unsal “to take ownership of the team, and today that idea was in full effect.”
“It feels great to be back,” Guthrie said, adding that he missed playing basketball and his team. “I did good for my first game back. I could have made a couple other plays, but in the end, we got the ones that mattered.”.”
“As a team we did great,” Nashid said. “We were a little slow in the third quarter, but we really turned up during the fourth quarter.” Nashid also mentioned that Bell had set a goal for the team to score at least 60 points, which they completed.
The team will next play at the Potomac School on Wednesday, Jan. 22.