BOYS' BASKETBALL: WCDS dismantles Crossroads Christian

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on December 14, 2016 10:00 AM

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Well, wasn't that fun.

Wayne Country Day School, using all facets of its much-ballyhooed offensive lineup, at first discombobulated -- then dismantled -- visiting Crossroads Christian, 85-54, on Tuesday evening in front of a relentless, raucous home crowd.

And the performance, equal parts scheme and showtime, developed in stages.

Chargers' point guard Jimmie Sanders controlled matters in the opening stanza, probing the Crossroads' 2-3 zone with blurring speed and highwire finishes at the rim.

When not busy converting at the basket, Sanders could be found creating easy looks for his Charger teammates -- all part of a slippery, 10-assist performance for the junior guard.

After one quarter, the Chargers led 21-12.

The duo of Cole Atwood and Jamal King heated up in the second stanza, dialing from distance three times to increase both the gym's decibel level and the Charger advantage.

Through the game's opening 16 minutes, WCDS knocked down 17 field goals -- most of them the result of a blinding pace that would have made Jerry Tarkanian blush.

The effort, an end-to-end sprint, drew significant praise from Charger head coach David Flowers.

"I knew they (Crossroads) couldn't run with us," Flowers said. "And the biggest thing we've stressed the last two weeks is defense -- because it leads to transition offense, and that's where we're good."

As in really good.

The third quarter saw WCDS increase its intensity, again pushing the pace and seeking opportunities in transition. Within minutes, any notion of a Colt rally disappeared in a litany of turnovers, a hail of navy-and-red triples and the game's signature moment by Atwood.

At the 3-minute mark, a loose ball was tossed ahead to the sharpshooter, who waited alone in the backcourt. After gathering himself in two power dribbles, the junior took flight from the paint and hammered home a windmill-inspired, left-handed tomahawk -- an effort that effectively finished Crossroads and sent the Country Day caucus into bedlam.

Done and done.

Flowers pulled his starters with just over five minutes remaining, sending his second unit to finalize matters versus a volume-shooting Crossroads team that played with vigor through the final whistle.

"We kept pushing," Flowers said of the effort. "If we can get out and run, we're fine. It was fun to see them get out there and play like that."

Atwood, who canned seven triples, finished with a game-high 25 points. He was complemented by Sanders, who scored 21; and King, who registered 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Dwayne Macon, Ghage Kenan and Johnathan Pearsall all registered double-figure efforts for Crossroads, who fell to 7-2 on the season.

Wayne Country Day, now 5-5, will face Oakwood School this Friday.