BOYS' BASKETBALL: Metcalf's 'and one' play sinks arch rival Greenfield

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on January 23, 2017 9:57 AM

• Print
• Email

By BEN COLEY

bcoley@newsargus.com

Wayne Country Day's Marcus Metcalf tirelessly perfects his mid-range jump shot.

All of those painstaking hours of practice had to pay off at some point.

As luck would have it, that moment came when the Chargers needed it the most. With WCDS and Greenfield deadlocked at 61, Metcalf received a toss from Jimmie Sanders. He then curled into the lane, and found his bread-and-butter shot.

Stop, rise, fire -- just like in practice.

Metcalf nailed an elbow jumper as he was fouled with 0.8 seconds left. He calmly sank the free throw and gave the Chargers a momentous 64-61 victory over the Knights on Friday night.

"I see a lane on the right, and I see Jimmie to the left of me," said Metcalf, recalling his shot. "I know if I can get around the one guy I could pull up at the elbow...I appreciate him giving me the ball for the last shot."

The young sophomore's cold-blooded dagger capped a wild fourth quarter that nearly witnessed an incredible comeback by Greenfield.

With 2:36 left, WCDS held a 58-50 advantage.

That lead shrunk to 59-55 with 1:31 left. To make matters worse, Jamal King -- who had tallied nine points in the fourth quarter -- fouled out of the game.

Just 50 seconds later, that spread transformed into an uncomfortable 61-60 lead.

"I told them to be smart," said head coach David Flowers. "It started at five minutes. I told them to give me five minutes of smart basketball. And it got to the end and I was just telling the guys to take care of the ball...just be smart and try your best to defend."

Asking to defend Greenfield's Coby White is easier said than done. The junior guard -- who's committed to North Carolina -- forced a foul with 19 seconds left. White made one free throw to tie the score, but missed the second, setting up Metcalf's opportunity.

The play was designed to be a double screen for Sanders, and then he was going to take it to the basket or find Cole Atwood for a jump shot. However, the play broke down and Metcalf became open.

"It's a weird feeling, but once (Metcalf) had it, I knew if he took it to the basket it was going to be trouble," Flowers said. "But when he stopped, I knew it was good because that's Marcus' shot."

Metcalf finished the game with 10 points. Despite not playing the last minute and a half, King led the Chargers with 26 points and 11 rebounds. White, who recently eclipsed 2,000 points, recorded a game-high 39.

Friday night's win also gave WCDS sole possession of first place at 5-0 in the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A Conference.

Flowers said he likes where his team is at, but is well aware that bigger games are still ahead for his Chargers.

"We're peaking, but we're not there yet," Flowers said. "I think we're getting there....if we would just compete and just listen and run the offense and run the defense and do the things we're supposed to do, we're tough to beat too.

"We're a good team, and we've proven that so far."