First Round: Tech Prep vs Spalding

Recap

by Boots Giblin

The second matchup of the Capitol Hoops summer league playoffs was a thriller, in which Archbishop Spalding defeated Tech Prep, 68-64. In a game where there were four lead changes and three times the score was tied, fans could tell they would be getting their money’s worth for this game. Both teams shot evenly from the floor at 44% in the first half, and both teams scored relatively evenly inside the paint. For the first 10-12 minutes of the half it was a one to two possession lead for Tech Prep, when a few Spalding turnovers helped Tech Prep extend the lead to nine points with 3:50 remaining. A few key Spalding threes in this time frame eased some of the scoring weight off of Malik Washington who tallied 14 in the first half, and Spalding took the two point lead into half. 

In the second half, Tech Prep continued to hold a strong advantage on the glass, particularly on the offensive end, grabbing nine offensive rebounds, but shots weren’t falling and the turnovers mounted. Spalding jumped out to a seven point lead in the first two minutes of the half, but David and Daniel Bumpass were able to find the bottom of the rim more consistently in the second half to trim the lead, but their nine second half turnovers led to 16 easy points for Spalding, that would come back to hurt them. Their shooting woes were also costly as guard Malik Shackleford, who came into the playoffs averaging close to 13 points a game went 1-10 from the field, and only added two points for Tech prep. 

In the end, Malik Washington and Elijah Barret made a few more shots from their dribble penetration for Spalding, and every time Tech Prep came within striking distance of another lead change, Spalding provided another dagger. Spalding made a couple clutch free throws in the final 90 seconds to diminish any Tech Prep chance of keeping it a one possession game, and they clawed out the victory 68-64. 

With this victory, Spalding will face the number two team in the summer league and host school, DeMatha. They’ll need another clutch performance from Malik Washington, as they will try to make it competitive on the glass and limit their turnovers in hopes of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in Summer League by knocking off defending champs DeMatha.