Collier, Washington starts enough to stop Musselman
INWOOD— With Tyrek Collier scoring the game’s first eight points and the Patriots outscoring host Musselman by 16 points in the first quarter alone, Washington posted a 53-37 win over the Applemen on Friday at Cline Court in Inwood.
The victory was Washington’s third in four nights — all on the road. The Patriots improved to 11-6 overall with what was actually the team’s fourth consecutive win.
Musselman was 6-10 overall with the homecourt loss.
Collier had outscored the Applemen, 8-0, before Washington settled for a 20-4 lead after the first period.
The game’s tempo and complexion was radically altered in the second quarter when Musselman changed its defense from a man-to-man to a 2-3 halfcourt zone. Washington couldn’t do much against the Musselman zone — scoring only four points in the second quarter — and had its lead shaved back to 24-16 at the half.
When the Applemen outpointed the Patriots, 14-11, in the third quarter, the Patriots had only a 35-30 lead after three periods.
Washington was able to change course in the fourth quarter when it was able to go to the foul line 14 times. But the Patriots made only six free throws and had some trouble expanding their lead if Collier wasn’t scoring.
Washington outpointed the Applemen, 18-7, in the fourth quarter.
Collier would finish with a 4-for-7 showing from the foul line. His 10-for-14 accuracy from the field was enough to derail the Applemen.
Washington was 12-for-25 as a team from the foul line. Musselman’s Trevon Wesco totaled 24 of the team’s 38 points. He was the only Musselman player to visit the foul line where he was 4-for-5. Other than Wesco, the other Musselman players were a combined 6-for-24 (25 percent) from the floor.
Dominique Newman (3-for-4 from the field) and Jerome Jones (2-for-9 from the floor) both added eight points for the Patriots.
A definitive start and a recurrence of scoring in the late going buoyed Washington and allowed the Patriots to win their fourth straight game.
