Sophie B. Wright Outruns Landry-Walker in Fast Paced, High Flying Showdown

Twitter @drewrobison

Friday, January 18, 2019

Sophie B, Wright High School- New Orleans

With 34 seconds left in the first half, and with a six point lead and possession… I thought the Warriors of Sophie B. Wright might slow it down and play for the last shot of the half. Instead the Warriors and the visiting Bucs of Landry-Walker exchanged five more possessions before the buzzer at intermission. That was the type of game it was- all gas and no brakes, as Sophie B. Wright went on to an 84-74 win at home on Friday.

Damiree Burns had the hot hand early for the Warriors, hitting the first shot of the game, a three from the right corner, and attacking the rim with two more buckets in the first quarter. He led all scorers with 7 points, and SBW was up on LW 17-16.

Charlie Russell joined Burns in the second quarter, as both Warriors dominated the boards and the transition game, pushing to a 28-18 lead with 5 minutes left in the second quarter. The 11-2 run was capped with a Bucs timeout, following Warriors guard Dandrick Green laying up an assist off the glass for Russell’s two handed slam. The home crowd went crazy in the packed (standing room only) gym.

Landry-Walker remained cool under the leadership of a couple of guards, Tory Cargo and Dywan Griffin, as they hit consecutive threes to cut into the Warriors’ lead. Bucs forward Jamond Vincent silenced the majority and got a few visiting fans to their feet after a steal, splitting two SBW defenders, and slamming a right-handed tomahawk through the rim. The halftime lead was down to six, as SBW was still on top, 41-35. Shadon Green led LW scoring in the first half with 12, and Dandrick Green had 10 for SBW.

The third quarter saw intensity rising, as 4 technical fouls were issued by the officiating crew, who nipped extra trash talking in the bud before anything got out of hand. The Bucs battled back into the game, led by their guards Tory Cargo and Shadon Green. LW cut the SBW lead to 58-54, and they had the game within reach.

But the home Warriors finished in a similar way that they started, with Damiree Burns controlling the paint and several teammates helping from the free throw line. Sophie B. Wright outlasted and out ran a tough Landry Walker Bucs team, 84-74.

For SBW, Burns finished with 25, Russell had 19, and Dandrick Green had 17. LW’s Shadon Green led all scorers with 32. The next games for both teams will be January 21. The Warriors (24-4) will face Walker HS at Xavier next, while the Bucs of LW (12-7) will host defending State Champions Madison Prep.