Handley rallies to beat Heritage (Newport News) in boys' basketball
- By JIM LAISE SPECIAL TO THE WINCHESTER STAR | The Winchester Star
Handley’s Gus Wise looks for a teammate to pass to after getting a rebound against Heritage (Newport News) in the first half of the Judges’ LegacySynthesis showcase game on Saturday at Handley. Wise had a team-high 17 points in the Judges’ 79-62 win.
- Jeff Taylor/The Winchester Star
Handley’s Kevin Curry drives past Heritage defender Jordan Boone in the first half of Saturday’s game at Handley. The Judges rallied from a 28-14 deficit early in the second quarter to improve to 5-0.
- Jeff Taylor/The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — The Handley boys’ basketball team overcame a 14-point deficit early in the second quarter to defeat Heritage (Newport News) 79-62 on Saturday night in the second game of the LegacySynthesis Basketball Showcase at Maddex-Omps Gymnasium.
The Judges (5-0) — playing their second game in as many nights — struggled early without point guard Michael Brown, who only played about three minutes in the first quarter with foul trouble. Handley trailed 26-14 after one quarter and 28-14 23 seconds into the second quarter.
“Michael is our leader,” Judges forward Gus Wise said. “He’s been that way the last several years. He is in charge. The good thing about him, tonight, was that even when he was out some of our other players picked up the slack.”
They did that, and then some.
Brown was forced to go to the bench for the rest of the first half after he picked up his third foul with 6:18 to go in the second quarter and the Judges down 31-19.
Handley cut its deficit to 41-39 at the half by outscoring Heritage 20-10 with Brown on the bench in the second quarter. Handley then outscored the Hurricane (3-3) 21-8 in the third quarter to take a 60-49 lead into the fourth quarter.
Led by Wise (17 points), five Handley players scored in double figures for the game. Brown tallied 14, D’Andre James had 13, Keevon Martin scored 11 and Ra’Shaad Morris had 10.
“The big thing is we put five players in double figures against good competition. That’s what stands out,” Handley coach Jason Toton said. “Also, when we had to, some of our better players tonight came off the bench. That was satisfying.”
The Hurricanes went on a 10-0 run to take a 28-14 lead with 7:37 left in the second quarter for its largest lead of the game, with Heritage’s Trovel Blizzard (23 total points), scoring 13 points in the quarter.
Brown picked up his third foul on Handley’s full-court press, which was wearing out the Hurricanes.
Still down by 13 at 32-19 with 5:53 showing in the second quarter, other Judges came into play.
James stuck a jumper, then Martin cut it to 32-23 with two free throws with 5:13 left in the half.
Later, reserve Colin Smith (eight points) hit a late 3-pointer in the second quarter to cut Handley’s deficit to 40-36, then Gus Wise’s three-pointer at the halftime buzzer made it 41-39 Heritage.
The momentum continued into the third quarter. Kevin Curry made a basket off a backdoor cut and then Wise rebounded a missed free throw. His follow gave Handley its first lead (43-41) since the first quarter.
“The thing about Gus is … he came back from this summer a lot more aggressive,” Brown said. “He’s been that way since the fall and it’s paying off.”
Martin hit a three, then James and Brown finished off fast breaks to give the Judges a 50-41 lead with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter.
A layup by Blizzard made the score 52-45. But Handley outscored Heritage 8-2 for a 60-47 lead as the third period was about to come to an end.
It was fourth quarter fireworks for the home team and its packed Maddex-Omps Gym crowd as Wise started out with a traditional three-point-play and then Curry found Brown for a rousing slam dunk off an alley-oop pass and 18-point lead that made oit 69-51 with 5:10 to go.
“That was exciting,” Brown said. “I’ve dunked before but to get the crowd into it …”
Defending Class 4 state champion Loudoun Valley edged Class 6 Battlefield 72-70 with a three-point shot at the buzzer in the first game of Saturday’s showcase.
A portion of the basketball showcase ticket sales went to the Frederick County/Winchester Bright Futures program, a non profit organization that helps schools connect student needs with resources that already exist in the community.
