Fork Union just couldn’t miss.
Quadariis Newkirk couldn’t miss. Chrystian Brown couldn’t miss. Alonzo Mayes, James Jent, Jalen Harris — nobody on the floor for Fork Union seemed to miss.
The Blue Devils unleashed a 32-point explosion in the third quarter en route to a 71-59 victory over Woodberry Forest Tuesday night. Newkirk had 11 points in the frame, including three 3-pointers while Brown had nine points and Mayes had seven.
Fork Union managed to turn some defensive stops into instant offense coming out of the locker room in the second half.
“We thought that we could apply a little more pressure on the ball and I think that caused them to cough the ball up a couple of times and we were able to take advantage on fast break points,” Donohue said. “We’re a pretty good shooting team and we haven’t shot that well — I’ve been waiting for that to happen. It finally opened up.”
The 32-point quarter broke open a game the Tigers actually led at the half 26-25. Defensive breakdowns seemed to pile up for Woodberry as Fork Union stared down open look after open look.
“I think it’s a mental thing to be quite honest — once we get fatigued we lose focus on what’s going on out on the floor,” said Woodberry coach Craig Dawson. “If you give up 25 points in the (whole) first half and then 32 in the third it’s tough to beat anybody. We’ve just got to be mentally tougher.”
The Tigers bounced back in the fourth, largely on the strength of Doug Randolph on the offensive end. Randolph scored 13 of his 32 total points in the final frame, but could only slightly cut into the Blue Devils extensive lead at that point.
While Randolph got some help on offense from Thompson Long who had 11, nobody else on the Tigers’ roster managed five or more points. Fork Union managed to clamp down on everyone but Randolph, though there was a concerted effort to try and slow the Tigers’ main man down.
“We’ve been looking at him for three years and he just keeps getting bigger,” Donohue said. “He finishes so well around the basket. We told our guards that when he had the ball and he has his back to the basket just help over and see if you get in there and get your hand on the ball and just force him to pass it.”
Woodberry did manage to hit 15 of 17 free throws, but the defensive lapses in the third made all the difference.
Fork Union had three players in double figures and a couple of other players close to it, with Brown’s 21 points leading the way. Newkirk finished with 14 points and Harris checked in with 11. Jent had eight on the night while all of Mayes’ seven came in the scintillating third quarter for the Blue Devils.
Fork Union (4-4) and Woodberry both now enter the traditional extend winter break period for prep schools. The Tigers will next take the floor January 8 against St. Anne’s-Belfield on the road while Fork Union plays the same night at home against Trinity Episcopal.
