Evergreen #2
Evergreen Christian's Jackson Britt scored 19 points Thursday, including the game-winning layup.

Britt, Evergreen Christian rally late, defeat Virginia Academy 60-58

Jackson Britt’s layup at the buzzer capped a furious Evergreen Christian fourth quarter rally, as the Eagles defeated host Virginia Academy 60-58 Thursday night.

The rally started with under four minutes left in the game and Evergreen Christian down 54-46. RJ Jones and Chris Rochester had just hit consecutive three-pointers for the Patriots, forcing Evergreen Christian to call a timeout.

“We were just telling the team [in the timeout] to stay together, there’s a lot of game left so we can’t give up yet,” Britt said.

Britt started the comeback with a three-pointer. Then, after Virginia Academy missed a shot, Cole Forbrich converted a basket to make it 54-51. Rochester was then fouled on a three-pointer but only made one of three free throws. Foreshadowing things to come, Britt then took it to the hoop and was fouled to convert an old-fashioned three-point play.

 

He was just warming up. After a missed Patriots three-pointer the Eagles got on the fast break with Britt lobbing the ball to junior Jafet Valencia for a dunk. After yet another Virginia Academy miss, the Patriots fouled Evergreen Christian senior guard Zack Cook. Cook had only taken one shot all game and hadn’t been to the line, but he calmly buried two free throws to give Evergreen a 58-55 lead, capping a stunning 12-1 Eagles run.

To the Patriots’ credit, they counter-punched as they had time and time again throughout the see-saw affair. Jones took the ball to the corner, and when two Evergreen defenders went to him, he found Matthew McLaurin open. Before the Eagles’ help defense could arrive, McLaurin drilled the three-pointer to tie things up at 58.

After a timeout, Britt took it the length of the court, with no hesitation.


“I was thinking just to get downhill,” Britt said. “There was five seconds left so I just wanted to make a play. I knew before the play I had to take it and score. He [Evergreen Coach Joe Philogene] just said someone’s got to get downhill, somebody’s got to score.”

Britt led the way with 19 points, 13 coming in the second half and eight in the last four minutes of the game. Junior Elijah Williams added 12 points and six rebounds, while Valencia gave Evergreen Christian (17-8) a big spark off the bench with ten points.

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Junior Jafet Valencia gave his team a big spark off the bench, with ten points.

McLaurin led the way with 19 points for Virginia Academy (12-8), while Rochester added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

–Chris Jollay

all statistics are unofficial

EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN FG FT TP REB AST
FORBRICH 3-4 0-0  6  2  2
BURKE 1-3 0-0  2  1  1
BRITT 8-13 1-1  19  3  2
WILLIAMS 4-12 3-7  12  6  1
VAUGHN 2-4 0-0  4  2  0
Cook 0-1 2-2  2  4  1
Valencia 4-6 2-2  10  4  2
Smith 1-5 0-0  3  3  0
Kamp 1-3 0-0  2  0  0
TOTALS 24-51 8-12  60  25  9
Threes: Britt 2-3, Williams 1-3, Smith 1-5, Forbrich 0-1,    Cook 0-1, Burke 0-2
VIRGINIA ACADEMY FG FT TP REB AST
JONES, JR. 2-14 0-0  5   3   3
BLUE 2-4 0-0  5   5   2
McLAURIN 7-18 2-2  19   4   0
ROCHESTER 5-12 2-4  14   10   4
WUTCHOK 1-2 2-3  4   2   1
Manser 1-3 0-0  2   1   1
Johnson 4-8 0-0  9   1   1
TOTALS 22-61 6-9  58  26   12
Threes: McLaurin 3-10, Rochester 2-4, Blue 1-1,         Johnson 1-3, Jones Jr. 1-6, Wutchok 0-1, Manser 0-1