After an 18-point outburst in the first half on Thursday, Charles Graves was well within range of the career-high 29 he scored earlier this season.
Rather than chucking up a bunch of shots after the break to set a new high mark, he showed what a true team player he’s become instead.
Graves attempted just three field goals in the second half — one of them a desperation heave at the end of the third quarter — and finished with a game-high 22 points to go with five assists, six rebounds and five steals as host Glassboro defeated Schalick 64-47 in Tri-County Conference Diamond Division action.
Jhaisir Harden added 12 points as the Bulldogs improved to 7-9 overall and 5-3 in the division. Quinn Cardona scored 15 points to lead the Cougars, who fell to 2-17, 1-7.
“I just go out there and do what I have to do to win the game,” Graves said. “I like to get my teammates involved and my confidence comes from playing good and making sure my teammates are playing good. I like to lead and be the general on the court. I don’t look into the stats, I just go out and try to win the game because that’s the bigger goal. I always think about the bigger goals, like going to states and winning championships.”
Graves scored 12 of his points in the first quarter as Glassboro used its press to force turnovers and get easy baskets. The Bulldogs raced out to a 17-0 lead and never looked back.
The fast start was important since Glassboro was coming off a tough 56-53 loss to Overbrook — the Diamond Division champion — two nights before.
“We talk every day about looking ahead and moving forward to what’s next,” Glassboro coach Steve Belh said. “Our preparation can’t be for what we already did, it has to be for what’s coming up. We do that each day in practice whether it’s film-oriented stuff or just drills and repetitions to make sure we’re ready for the next one.”
“That motivates us,” Graves added. “It pushes us to work harder and to come out hard and not give up.”
Graves had his second-highest scoring total of the year after his 29 in a season-opening win over LEAP Academy. His only field goal of the second half came on a breakaway, lefthanded dunk after a steal.
“I shoot with my right hand but I jump off my right foot so I dunk with my left hand,” he explained. “I just call it ambidextrous. I missed one earlier in the season so that was my first in-game dunk for my junior year.”
Graves had several nice back-door passes to teammates cutting to the basket in the second half. Belh was impressed with his unselfishness.
“Charles is starting to do a better job of recognizing when he does get a couple of buckets, it opens up space for everyone else,” he said. “Sophomore Charles last year would have continued to try to score. But he’s grown up in regard to understanding the game situation and not trying to force at times. It’s still a process but he’s grown up a lot.”
Clinton Suggs added eight points, nine rebounds and four assists in the win and Jayce Grays pulled down 11 boards. The Bulldogs crept closer to the .500 mark, but regardless of their record they feel they are getting ready for the postseason because of a schedule that has included the likes of Wildwood Catholic, Bishop Eustace and Eastern.
“We’ve played some very difficult teams and great basketball programs,” Belh said. “You’re going to take your lumps but it’s great preparation.”
“I feel like once we get into the playoffs it’s going to be smooth sailing because we’re getting challenged now,” Graves added. “I’m confident in our abilities.”
Schalick is in the midst of a rebuilding season but showed a lot of fight in the loss. The Cougars were competitive after the rough start and never pointed fingers or hung their heads despite the deficit.
“We have a tendency of getting down big in the first quarter just because we’re not doing well on transition defense,” coach Jim Turner said. “That first quarter just killed us. ... We dig that hole in the first quarter and then we have to try to dig out of it.
“(But) with certain kids, it doesn’t matter what the score is or how much we’re down, they’re just going to constantly play hard and fight to the very last second on every possession.”
Cardona knocked down three 3-pointers for the Cougars. Sophomore Reggie Allen had 10 points, five rebounds and three assists and freshman Levi Freeney-Childers chipped in eight points and three assists.
“I’m the only four-year player and most of the guys who usually play are young, so they’re excited and they have a lot of energy,” Cardona said. “They’re constantly trying hard and they go hard until the very end.”
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