3 takeaways from Briarcrest’s win over Christian Brothers

<p><span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Briarcrest’s two wins over Christian Brothers last season went down to the wire, resulting in a three-point win on the road and a one-point win at home.</span></p> <p>In the first meeting between both teams this season, the Saints didn’t allow the Purple Wave to stay in it. Thanks to a strong third quarter, Briarcrest (14-4) was able to put away Christian Brothers (13-7) for the 71-50 victory.</p> <p>Here are three takeaways from the Saints’ win over the Purple Wave:</p> <p><strong>Christian Brothers didn’t have an answer for Briarcrest’s frontcourt</strong></p> <p>Senior forwards <strong>Omari</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> and <strong>Rodney</strong> <strong>Newsom</strong> dominated inside the paint. Newsom started the game off scoring the team’s first eight points. After that, he went to the bench after picking up two fouls. Newsom finished the game with 13 points. Thomas scored nine of his 13 points in an important third quarter, when the game was still close - Saints were up 29-25 coming out of halftime. Senior forward <strong>Marcellus</strong> <strong>Brigham</strong> <strong>Jr</strong>. started the offensive on slaughter in the third quarter, scoring nine straight points to push Briarcrest’s lead to 38-25.</p> <p>Thomas and junior point guard <strong>Kennedy</strong> <strong>Chandler</strong> converted on three-point plays to push the lead to 46-27. Brigham Jr. led the Saints with 22 points. Chandler finished with 17 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and six steals.</p> <p>“We didn’t have an answer for the big guys,” Purple Wave head coach Bubba Luckett said. “We couldn’t stop them. They both are so big and strong.”</p> <p>There’s not another frontcourt in TSSAA Division II Class AA that can deal with Thomas, Newsom and Brigham Jr. </p> <p><strong>Briarcrest used length to contain Chandler Jackson</strong></p> <p>Marcellus Brigham Jr., who’s 6-foot-5, guarded sophomore point guard <strong>Chandler</strong> <strong>Jackson</strong> for most of the night while senior guard Michael Malone Jr. guarded junior guard <strong>Reese</strong> <strong>McMullen</strong>. Brigham Jr. did a good job on guarding Jackson, holding him to just 13 points and eight rebounds. McMullen led Christian Brothers in scoring with 23.</p> <p>Overall, the Purple Wave had nice looks at the basket. The shots just didn’t fall.</p> <p>“We had the right guys taking the right shots, and they weren’t falling and they were making shots with their back to the goal, banking them in and everything else,” Luckett’s comments about the third quarter in which the Saints outscored Christian Brothers, 21-8. “They had a great stretch when we were at our worse.”</p> <p>Briarcrest head coach John Harrington felt it was important for Brigham Jr. to contain Jackson if the Saints wanted to win the game.</p> <p>“Those guys are so good,” Harrington said about Jackson, McMullen and junior guards <strong>Harrison</strong> <strong>Kelly</strong> and <strong>Eli Federman</strong>. “Marcellus did a good job guarding Chandler Jackson. We didn’t have to help on him as much and that enabled us to stay on Harrison (Kelly) and Reese.”</p> <p><strong>Briarcrest took advantage of its opportunities at the free throw line</strong></p> <p>The Saints took advantage of their opportunities at the free throw line. Chandler went 8 of 10 from the charity stripe. Brigham Jr. went 3 for 3. Thomas made his one free throw attempt, and Newsom went 1 for 2.</p> <p>Recruiting info on Chandler: The 6-1 point guard is on an unofficial visit at Duke this weekend.</p>