Rosewood boys win Bulldog Christmas Classic
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 22, 2012 11:18 PM
PRINCETON -- Take your time.
Get a quick shot.
Dee Mabry followed Rosewood head coach Daniel Mitchell's instructions without hesitation and converted the game-winning, three-point play in a 56-52 triumph over archrival Princeton in the 2012 Bulldogs Christmas Classic boys' championship game Friday evening.
Mabry emerged the lone Eagle in double figures with 15 points and secured a spot on the six-player all-tournament squad. Held to just nine points in the Bulldogs' triangle-and-two defense, teammate Jyonte Raynor earned MVP honors. He scored 40 total points in the two-day affair.
The Eagles (8-2 overall) extended their win streak to five games.
"We scrambled at the end and Dee hit a huge shot for us," Mitchell said. "Princeton did a great job scrapping and battling, giving themselves a chance to win. We had some silly mistakes at the end."
Rosewood watched its 13-point, second-half lead slowly evaporate.
The Bulldogs closed the gap to 44-38 after three quarters and pulled to within 49-47 with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. Jon Hare's offensive putback gave the Eagles a two-possession lead, 51-47, until the Dogs' Colby Norris scored to make it 51-49.
"We had way too many unforced turnovers and we didn't box out like we're supposed to (on the boards)," Mabry said.
After a missed shot, Princeton settled into its halfcourt offense and worked the ball around the perimeter. Sharp-shooting senior Nick Cobb, who buried a career-high six 3-pointers the night before, drew a foul on a 3-point attempt with 49 seconds to go.
Cobb swished all three shots to put Princeton ahead 52-51.
Mitchell burned a timeout.
"Coach told us to take our time, we had to get a quick shot out of our set," Mabry said. "I was surprised about the quick shot, but said we'll go with it, I guess."
Mabry received the pass inbounds and looked for Raynor, who was draped by a Princeton defender on the post. Mabry dribbled unguarded toward the corner, took the shot, drew a foul and watched from the floor as the ball rattled through the rim.
He added the free throw and the Eagles led 54-52 with 25.9 seconds showing on the clock.
Princeton (5-5) called timeout and as expected, looked for either Cobb or sophomore Michael Wooten, who knocked down a game-high 18 points. Cobb got the ball and his 3-pointer just missed.
Rosewood rebounded and scored as time expired.
"The Mabry kid hit a great shot, don't know how he made it," Princeton head coach Jeff Davis said. "We got a decent look, didn't have to have a three ... it just didn't go. They're a good team and we can play with them.
"We didn't quit, came back and played really good defense the second half."
Cobb scored 10 points and received all-tournament accolades along with Wooten, who snagged seven rebounds and handed out five assists. Norris contributed 10 points.