North Point hosts James Chapman Memorial

Ball watched the Clippers climb back to within single digits on several occasions over the last 11 minutes, but his Eagles were able to weather the storm to cap an emotional weekend for the longtime coach.

“It’s a great tournament and I know James Chapman and my father, who both passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic, would still enjoy watching,” Ball said. “They were always sitting in the front row, center court for the entire tournament. It’s a long two days, but it’s a fitting tribute to Mr. Chapman who had been an integral part of the program since the school opened.”

One night after losing an overtime heartbreaker to AM Graphics (N.Y.), North Point rebounded in a big way against Oxon Hill.

The Eagles led 16-6 at the end of the first quarter and then extended the advantage to 34-19 at the intermission. North Point appeared well on its way to a laugher midway through the third quarter when the Eagles got three three-point field goals from junior Aaron Gumbs for a 53-27 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the frame.

But Oxon Hill countered with a pair of guards capable of equal success from long range. Junior Jacob Wright had accounted for over one half of the Clippers’ points in the first half then sophomore guard Sanjay Rogers brought Oxon Hill back within a respectable margin before the third period expired by hitting a pair of layups and two three-point field goals to trim the Eagles’ lead to 56-41.

“Last year when we came here we had four senior starters,” said Oxon Hill eighth-year coach Lewis Howard, who celebrated the 400th win of his coaching career earlier this season including a 2A state title during his 17 seasons as the head boys coach at Largo. “This year we’re really young. But I liked the way the guys fought back in the second half. We got it to single digits in the fourth quarter.”

Consecutive three-pointers from Rogers enabled the Clippers to get within 56-49 with 6:45 remaining, but the Eagles rebuffed the rally with buckets inside from Chris Johnson, Kendall Greene and Sterling Uwemedino and North Point was able to maintain a double-digit lead over the last three minutes.