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Alex Luyk, Duke Phipps and Tevon Raikes.
Remember those names. They are the future of
Catawba College menıs basketball. And Jim Baker showcased that freshman talent
Tuesday night during the Indiansı home opener against Claflin.
Terrence Hamilton, Ned Gusic and Brian Carter.
You already know those names. Theyıre the ones
Baker showcased when the game was on the line.
Those three veterans scored Catawbaıs last 18
points as the Indians fought their way to a 81-75 victory in Goodman Gym.
Baker has assembled a group this season that
should consistently score in the 80ıs. He has entertaining slashers, inside
power and outside shooting.
And everyone should contribute. In fact, 10
players saw at least nine minutes.
"As long as we
hold on to the ball, Iım hoping weıll be able to play like that," said Baker.
But regardless, Baker will have his veterans on
the floor at crunch time.
Hamilton, Gusic and Carter took turns making big
plays down the stretch.
When Phipps fed Hamilton for a layup with seven
minutes left, Catawba led 68-60. But the fast-paced Panthers tied the game
at the 4:40 mark after an 8-0 run.
First, it was Carterıs turn. The high-flying,
6-5 forward scored the gameıs next five points. He hit a free throw, swooped in
for a pretty, left-handed move and then brought the crowd to its feet by dunking
off a rebound for a 75-68 lead.
"When B.C. got
that dunk, everybody got into it," said Hamilton, a 6-6 junior who led the way
with 21 points and 10 rebounds. "We knew weıd win."
Then, it was Gusicıs turn. The
senior forward beat the Claflin press, faked two Panthers out of their Nikes and
soared for a dunk and a 75-68 lead with 3:12 left. It was the prettiest play of
the game.
When Claflin pulled within 76-73 with a minute
left, it was Hamiltonıs turn.
Gusic missed the second of his two free throws
but Hamilton bullied inside for the rebound, scored and was fouled. He completed
a 3-point play and then finished off Claflin moments later with two free
throws.
"The last two
times we played them, we were just dead," Hamilton said. "But we had confidence
tonight. We had energy."
NAIA Claflin had won two of three meetings in
this series, mainly because of superior quickness. The quickness is still
there. The Panthers led 17-5 with 14:14 remaining.
"We were about
to get rocked in our opener at home," Baker said. "But we hung in there."
Luyk (pronounced Luke) scored Catawbaıs first
five points and things perked up when Phipps, a 6-0 point guard from Virginia,
came onto the floor. He hit two shots, including a layup after a steal and eight
minutes later, the score was knotted at 29.
But 14 first-half mistakes were the main reason
Catawba trailed 44-37 at the half.
"Iıll bet 12,
14 of their points came off turnovers," Baker said. "I didnıt think they were
doing anything special. We just got in a hurry and made poor decisions."
Catawba calmed down and went on a 23-8 run to
start the second half. The 6-9 Luyk asserted himself, hitting a jumper, feeding
Raikes and then muscling inside for a rebound basket. Raikes, a slender 6-6
forward, scored all nine of his points in the surge, including a 3-pointer that
gave Catawba a 60-52 advantage with 12:11 left.
In the end, the diaper dandies did themselves
proud for a first game as all three scored nine points.
Phipps was 4-for-4 from the field with three
assists and three steals in 15 minutes. Luyk was 4-for-5 from the field.
Raikes was 4-for-9.
"Raikes and
Luyk were nervous from the get-go," said Baker. "Both played pretty well in the
second half." Carter finished with 14 points and Gusic 12 for Catawba.
n
NOTES: It was two different Catawba teams in the first and second halves.
Tavares Mack had 17 for Claflin in the first 20 minutes, two after halftime.
Catawba only made eight turnovers in the second half. ... Britt Jernigan of
North Stanly saw his first three minutes of college action. ... Quentin Bryant,
another North Stanly grad, played well, scoring four points, grabbing three
rebounds, coming up with three steals and dishing out two assists. ... Catawba
plays Friday and Saturday at home in the C.F. Parks/Catawba Classic.
CLAFLIN (75) < Shuler 16, Porter 4, Nash 11,
McFadden 9, Mack 19, Haskins 6, Brown 4, Haney 2, Paige 4.
CATAWBA (81) < Hamilton 21, Raikes 9, Luyk 9,
Gusic 12, Robertson, Hagaman 2, Petty 1, Carter 14, Bryant 4, Parks, Phipps 9,
Jernigan.
Claflin 44 31
< 75
Catawba 37 44
< 81
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