The Porter-Gaud Holiday Tournament boys’ championship was expected to be a shootout, but under the pressure of the Fort Dorchester defense Berkeley came out shooting blanks.
The Patriots (8-0) used an aggressive defense and ran the floor to dominate the first period en route to a 66-48 victory over the Stags. Fort Dorchester limited the normally potent Stags’ offense to only three buckets in the first period as it rolled to a 19-6 lead entering the second period and a 36-22 lead at the end of the first half.
“That was the best we’ve played in a first quarter this year,” Patriots coach Leon Wheaton said. “In some of the other games we came out dry, but tonight we came out playing hard. We did a good job recognizing their shooters and limiting their opportunities and we contained Bruce (Ellington) to a point. Some of the things he does, you kind of have to live with because he is so dynamic but we really came out good even against him.”
The physical game featured two of the most skilled players in the Lowcountry, Ellington and his cousin R.J. Slawson. Both are committed to play for USC next year, but Slawson plays for the Patriots this year and Ellington for the Stags.
Slawson led all scorers with 20 points on the night and had a solid defensive game. Corey Wright added 12 points for the Patriots and Rodney Gibbs 10.
Ellington, who limped out of the game in the first period and returned a couple of minutes later, had 11 for the Stags, which were led by R.J. Robinson with 13. Berkeley’s D.J. Harrison hit three shots from three-point range.
The Patriots set the pace in the first half, benefiting off turnovers and fast breaks while limiting the Berkeley shooters. The Stags did get some good looks at the basket, but didn’t’ sink enough open shots.
Fort Dorchester made 13-of-18 free throws in the first half compared to Berkley’s 5-of-10 effort at the line the first two periods.
Slawson was named the tournament MVP. Wright and D.J. Harrison also received all-tournament honors.
The Berkeley girls also advanced to the tournament championships, but fell 27-41 to Victory Christian Academy. Tournament MVP Alexis Hicks posted 19-points against the Lady Stags. Berkeley was led by Amber Daniels, who scored 9 points while Allyson Kinsey and Amber Robinson both chipped in 5.