Wildcats Open the NXT LVL Hoopfest
Christ Presbyterian Academy (CPA) again hosts the NXT LVL Nashville Hoopfest in the days after Christmas. Nominal hosts of the opening game, Oak Ridge Wildcats defeated Georgians Discovery High, 67-63.
Instantly the Wildcats clawed out a first quarter lead, 15-2.
“We just got off to a great start,” said Oak Ridge Head Coach Aaron Green. “I thought we were engaged on the defensive end, which I thought that helped us offensively. When you make shots you tend to play better defense.”
It ballooned to 23-9 by the quarter’s end.
Discovery made the most hay in intervening quarter. As the long, lithe wings found gaps in the defense they started to score. Oak Ridge really played the body well and frankly benefited from nitpicking officials. Numerous charges kept the power of Discovery from taking over.
Still, Discovery’s team dominated the second stanza, scoring 19 points. It was really their only good quarter offensively.
At the half, Discovery drew close and appeared poised to overtake the Wildcats.
Overall, Discovery struggled with the ball. They committed 19 turnovers.
Second Half
The third quarter was critical for a Wildcat team eager to recover command of the game. With constant probing by Marcus Smith and Levert Smith, Oak Ridge won the third quarter 15-10. It took a last-second Kalu Ezikpe (Old Dominion signee) layup to give Discovery their 10th point of the quarter.
“Obiovusly they made a run and came back,” said Head Coach Aaron Green. “I was pleased with our guys to hang on.”
The execution was not flawless late, but it was enough.
“We missed a few free throws,” said Oak Ridge Coach Green. “When you have a 10 point lead with three minutes left and make your free throws, [then] you should win.”
Seth didn’t play last year. He didn’t play the last cuple years. Marcus is Levert’s brother. he has had a really good year. This is one of the first games we have had everybody back.
Penetration worked for Oak Ridge, but Levert’s offerings in the paint did not commonly succeed. Discovery’s forwards blocked many, many shots. More successful for the Wildcats were penetrating drives capped by a late dish. Most of the Oak Ridge guards used this tactic to succeed.
After the Wildcats established a cozy double-digit lead the ball-handlers of Oak Ridge kept possession, drained clock, and made their pertinent free throws.
The final quarter really crawled to the finish line and Oak Ridge captured a nice, early win.
“I thought it was our best game of the year against a really good team,” said Coach Green.
Levert Smith finished with 18 points (8-12 FT’s), five assists, and three rebounds. Brother Marcus Smith scored 16 points (3-4 3’s) and Seth Caldwell gave 19 points, six rebounds, three assists, four blocks, and five turnovers to the cause.
Kalu Ezkpe scored 23 points with nine rebounds. He was exceptional.
Thursday they play the winner of CPA-Baptist Prep in the NXT LVL semifinals.