Columbia Star

1963        Celebrating 60 Years      2023

Gray splits with Keenan




Avantae Parker scored a game-high 19 points as the Gray Collegiate War Eagles defeated the Keenan Raiders 60-53 Friday, January 20.

“We were focused. We finished around the basket too. We made some shots. That was the difference,” Gray Collegiate head coach Dion Bethea said. “On Tuesday, we missed a lot of layups and didn’t make shots. Tonight we responded, and I was proud of them.”

Keenan got on the board with a pair of free throws from Chrisean Oree and a layup from Jaylen Golston. Gray answered with two free throws from Montraivis White and a jumper from Devin Johnson to tie the score at 4-4.

The Raiders countered with two layups from Brian Sumpter and a jumper from David Elam to lead 10-4. Then the momentum swung back to the War Eagles with a layup from Johnson, a dunk from Parker, and a jumper from White to tie the score at 10- 10. Golston knocked down a jumper to give Keenan a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Amarii King hit a bank shot to increase Keenan’s lead to 14-10 to open the second quarter.

Gray got a free throw from Parker, a layup from Johnson, a bucket and one free throw from White, a jumper from Ellis Graham, and a 3-pointer from Quan McDuffie to take a 21-17 lead.

Then it was the Raiders’ turn to carry the momentum with a 9-2 run. Sumpter got a bucket and a free throw; Broderick Anderson knocked down a jumper; and Oree, Emanuel McCullough, and Rashard Robinson each converted free throws for a 25-23 halftime lead.

Parker tied the score at 25-25 with a layup in the opening seconds of the third quarter. David Elam put the Raiders back ahead with a 3-pointer. Gray answered with a 3- pointer from Treyvon Maddox. Golston hit a bank shot to give Keenan a 30-28 lead. The War Eagles responded with a 3-pointer from Parker to lead 31-30. Oree countered with a jumper as the Raiders led 32-31. White made a layup as Gray went back in front by a point. Anderson converted a pair of free throws as Keenan held a 34-33 lead. A jumper by White, a bucket and one from Parker, a layup from Maddox, and a pair of free throws from LJ Britt gave the War Eagles a 42-36 lead. A bucket and one and a layup from Oree trimmed the Keenan deficit to 42-41. However, Gray answered with a bucket and one from Parker and a layup from Johnson to lead 47-41 at the end of the third quarter.

Keenan went on a 6-0 run to start the fourth with layups from Golston and Elam and a pair of free throws from Oree to tie the score at 47-47. Britt knocked down a 3-pointer and Parker had a dunk to put the War Eagles ahead 52-48. A layup from Golston closed the deficit to two. Then Britt had a bucket and one, Parker knocked down a free throw and made a layup, and Johnson converted a pair of free throws to pull out the 60-53 win.

“LJ is one of the top sophomores in the state,” Bethea said. “I’m just glad he had his opportunity to go out there and perform. He stepped up when we needed him, and he made a great play and made his free throw.”

The Gray win means the two teams split the season series, which could be important in determining the winner in Region 4-2A.

“We knew we needed to win by more than five. The guys went out there and they played hard. I was super excited for them,” Bethea said. “(Keenan head coach) Zach (Norris) has a great team and a great program. I’m just glad we stepped up and performed.”

Gray Collegiate: Avantae Parker 19, Montraivis White 13, Devin Johnson 10, LJ Britt 8, Treyvon Maddox 5, Quan McDuffie 3, and Ellis Graham 2.

Keenan: Chrisean Oree 14, Jaylen Golston 12, Brian Sumpter 11, David Elam 7, Broderick Anderson Jr. 4, Amarii King 2, Emanuel McCullough Jr. 2, and Rashards Robinson 1.

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