July 13, 2008 — Dornell “Burger” Hendricks scored 26 of his game-high 28 points in the second half to help the defending champion Hoyas orchestrate a huge comeback to defeat Speak the Word, 77-71, in a Choices Basketball Association Friday night contest.
For three and a half quarters, Speak the Word dominated all aspects of the game at the St. Croix Central High gym and saw their lead balloon to as many as 17 points in the early parts of the third quarter. But “Burger” Hendricks got hot somewhere in the middle of the third quarter and the champs, who moments earlier looked on their way to a huge upset defeat, began their comeback.
From the beginning of the game, Speak the Word coach Heidi Williams appeared to have engineered the perfect defensive scheme to stop the high-powered Hoyas offense. Her team pressured the ball at every Hoyas inbound and trapped every chance they got. This defense worked so well in providing easy baskets off of Hoyas turnovers that many in the gym thought the champs would surely be beaten Friday night.
But the Hoyas took all that the youthful Speak the Word squad threw at them, and although momentarily staggered, recovered to deliver the knockout blow in the end.
Hoyas coach Samuel Lee was happy for the victory, but he was not pleased with his team’s tardiness. “This is what happens when we do not come on time. You know we almost forfeited this game tonight. Like I told you the other night, when my team shows up it is hard for anyone to beat us. Tonight was another night we had to pull it together late."
Defense was the name of the game early and the 1-3 Speak the Word team really rattled the late arriving Hoyas with their aggressiveness. The youngsters, at the end of the first quarter, on the strength of 10 points from Davon Peterson and their tenacious defense, led by four at 14-10.
Danny Kirby picked up the scoring for Speak the Word in the second quarter with nine points, and still playing tough defense his team was able to keep the Hoyas at bay to go into the locker room with a surprising five points lead at 34-29 at the half.
Speak the Word came out of the locker room on fire to start the third quarter. Led by Jermaine Mulley who had 13 points in the period, they opened on a 23-11 run and led by 17, at 57-40, half way through the quarter. After a timeout, the Hoyas came out with a man-to-man defense, with defensive guru, Karl “Mike Jones” John, now guarding the hot-shooting Mulley.
John all but shut down Mulley and Burger Hendrickson caught fire and finish with 15 points most coming late in the period. The Hoyas ended the third on a 16-5 run and was within seven points of the lead at the end three quarters.
Out hustled in the early stages of the game, they were now the ones diving on the floor, getting to the loose balls, and coming up with the big defensive plays. The young Speak the Word squad just seemed to wither down the stretch in the hot gym.
When Mulley, easily the best player for Speak the Word in the second half, fouled out midway through the final period, it was evident that the writing was on the wall. The Hoyas opened the fourth on a 10-6 run to get to with in three at 69-66 with 5:50 left in the game.
John’s turn around jumper gave the Hoyas their first lead of the game, 71-69, at the 4:00 mark. Peterson’s first basket since early in the second quarter tied the game at 71 with 3:10 left. Speak the Word would not score again and the Hoyas scored the game’s final six points to seal the deal.
Hendricks may have scored the most points for the Hoyas, but the MVP of the game could easily be Karl “Mike Jones” John. John, who finished with 16 points, was strong defensively and he also hauled down eight rebounds with three blocks. Warren Christian and Kurt John also contributed with 10 points each for the Hoyas.
For Speak the Word, Mulley led the way with 17 points and seven boards, Devon netted 13 and Darnell Phillips finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
