Bison Short Circuit Red Flash

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — December 5th, 2003

__________________________________________________________________________________

Bison Short Circuit Red Flash  

The posters are now available, get them while they're hot because supplies are limited.

 

For student who left after at halftime, the Bison comeback against the Red Flash of St. Francis paled in comparison to the "Dunk Heard 'Round the Mecca." 

 

With 13:46 left in the second half, James "Mac" Wilkinson shifted into sixth gear, went baseline and rose over a St. Francis defender for a jaw-dropping facial. Spectators weren't interested in the name of the defender, but for the sake of humiliation, Rodney Gibson was the red 45 jersey who committed the foul sending Wilkinson to the line for a potential three-point-play.

 

The statement Wilkinson made over Gibson may be seen by some as a momentary jolt that went through Burr Gymnasium which only counted for two points. 

 

It was the opposite; it was the surge the Bison needed. For the next five minutes, those emphatic two points sparked the Bison to go on a 19-4 run. 

 

"After a dunk like that, it throws them (St. Francis) back," explained Wilkinson.

 

In the first half, Wilkinson was settling for outside shots and finished the half with 11 points off 2-8 from the field. 

 

After intermission, it was a totally different Wilkinson. His dominance in the paint and aggressiveness going to the bucket led Wilkinson to put up 17-points of his 28-points after the half. 

 

"Mac took advantage of them not being able to guard him," said Head Coach Frankie Allen. "We just need to get him to cut down on the turnovers." 

 

It was Wilkinson's six turnovers that was a concern to Coach Allen. 

 

This isn't the first time Wilkinson has snapped off and establishing himself as an inside threat for the Bison this season. In their exhibition game against Four Corners last month, he scored 32 points in a double OT win. And last weekend in the Championship game of the Florida International University/Hampton Inn Invitational Tournament in Miami, Wilkinson posted 21-points in a three-point loss to against Montana State.

 

Wilkinson and his offense is great, but no team can function with a solid defense. 

 

"Our bread and butter was our pressure defense and our zone was effective," noted Allen. 

 

Allen said that the Bison would alternate defenses after timeouts giving the Red Flash a new look defensively. It was their full court press that caused most of the Red Flash turnovers. And those turnovers weren't merely unforced errors.

 

Aside from a quiet 15-point night and five dimes, Louis Ford's contributions were on defense.

 

"Stop the ball early and put pressure on the guard" was Ford's simple defensive strategy. He was two steals shy of a double-double and getting cuffed for serial theft. A majority of his eight rips were off of guard Erick Willis and he contributed to 19 turnovers by the Red Flash.

 

No lead is safe and the Bison found it out the hard way. Their 11-points with 3:35 left in the game was slowly chipped away by a Red Flash team who didn't have single field goal until a Jason Osbourne dunk with :24 seconds left. It was their ability to attack the basket and draw the foul that led to seven points from trips to the charity stripe. 

 

Their effort was too little to late as the Bison defended their territory with a 79-72 victory.

 

Allen expressed his appreciation for their support during this study period. 

 

"We want to win every home game and it starts with winning the first. We have to defend our turf. After a nice trip to Miami and playing NC State well, playing at home builds up a base for fan support," Allen said.

St. Francis was a first in a four game home stand for the Bison as they play Radford University on Saturday, December 6 at 4pm, neighbors the Eagles of American University on December 8 at 7pm and Canisius College on December 13 at 4pm. Finals are important and the Bison will be saving you a seat for when those books get too overwhelming.