National High School Coahces Association Holiday Festival Day Two

On Saturday December 27th the panthers ventured out and played in their second game of the NHSCA Holiday festival in Salisbury, MD. TMA had the task of competing against Stephen Decatur which had a big frontline of 6'9, 6'5, and 6'3. TMA jumped out to an 11-4 lead at the end of the first quarter which gave the panthers momentum heading into the second quarter. TMA got a defensive boost off the bench from freshman Emmanuel Brown as he ball hawked Decatur defenders and rebounded the basketball to help the frontline. In the second quarter, TMA's offense stifled a bit which allowed Decatur to stay in the game and open oppurtunities for the opposition to close the gap. The panthers got back in the game as the intensity on the defensive side of the ball picked up as the panthers were able to stretch the lead to 11 at the half. Going into halftime Khalid Vaughn hit a big three to give the panthers a lift as they closed out the half on a 9-2 run. As they second half recovened Decatur started to come back they tightened the zone and clogged up the middle forcing the panthers to bomb from the outside. TMA could not take advantage beyond the arc and began to have trouble around the basket. Decatur close the lead to six but that would be as close as they would get it as the TMA applied full court pressure forcing Decatur into turnovers. At the end of the third TMA maintained a 10 point lead as Jason Givens and Trevor Dillard connected on a couple baskets to end the third quarter. As the final period commenced the full court pressure aplied by the panthers began to wear down Stephen Decatur as the lead ballooned to twenty points midway through the fourth quarter. TMA finished the defeating Stephen Decatur 60-40 receiving 17 points, 10 rebounds from Jason Givens and 15 points, 8 rebounds from Antoine Hackman. TMA's record is now 7-2 overall.