Freedom Christian boys run past Wayne Christian

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 19, 2010 1:50 PM

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Wayne Christian executed its inside-outside strategy well during the opening minutes against Freedom Christian on Thursday evening.

Then came the "trap."

The Eagles fell into a transition-style tempo and suffered a 90-64, non-conference loss to the Patriots inside Clifford Gymnatorium.

Tyler Mooring pumped in a team-high 21 points for Wayne Christian, which has four returning starters. Chase King flirted with a double-double -- 14 points, eight rebounds. Chandler Harrell provided eight points and nine rebounds.

Sophomores Lee Baggett and Sabir Rashid led four Freedom Christian players in double figures with 32 and 27 points, respectively. Kuie Parker added 11, while Mack Gilbert knocked down 10.

The teams played to ties at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 13 points in the opening stages of the first quarter.

"We started out decently and played to our strength," said Wayne Christian head coach Franklin Brathwaite. "When we took the ball in the paint, we were very successful. When we started playing at their speed ..."

The explosion occurred.

Freedom Christian (4-0 overall) closed the first period on a 10-3 run and expanded its advantage in the second quarter. Baggett scored 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting during that stretch, and helped the Patriots take a commanding 49-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Wayne Christian toiled through 15 first-half turnovers.

"We went away from playing a slower game and working the defense," said Brathwaite. "That's part of the growth process since it's only the second game for us."

The Eagles (1-1) opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run and closed the gap to 49-37. King, Seth Slusher and Chase Darden (seven rebounds) converted baskets during the short surge.

Rashid's two free throws stopped the spurt and Baggett's 3-pointer started another Patriot outburst. Freedom led 73-41 after three periods and built as much as a 33-point lead in the final quarter.

"They hit some outside shots that opened the game up for them (again) and we frazzled out," said Brathwaite. "It's part of mental toughness in terms of what's working for us and try to take away what's working for them."

Wayne Christian entertains Shannon Forest (S.C.) today.