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Gold tough to stop
There was one lesson that opponents learned from the first two games of the season played by the Woodstock Academy Gold boys’ prep basketball squad over the weekend.
The Gold team is going to be very difficult to stop.
The Centaurs cleared the century mark twice in the Woodstock Academy Invitational. They hammered the Olympus Prep Grey squad from Williamstown, N.J., Nov. 3, 129-60. The Centaurs followed that up with a 111-67 win over the Olympus Prep Red squad Nov. 4.
There were distinct differences between the first two regular season games, however.
The Centaurs came out on fire against the Olympus Grey squad in the opener; they had to build that fire Nov. 3.
“We came out extremely sluggish in the first half. The first group did not have the energy that we needed,” said 6-foot, 9-inch center Tre Mitchell.
It was not a new event, according to Mitchell.
The Centaurs also got off a slow start in a game in the preseason PJN Classic tournament, with the spark being provided by the first group off the bench.
“That’s why we have 15 guys because, sometimes, guys don’t show up and other guys come in and get things going for us,” Mitchell said.
It took to the middle of the first half before the Centaurs built a 10-point lead, 23-13, on a basket by Darion Jordan Thomas (10 points).
The Centaurs built that lead to lead to as many as 17 points.
“The second group came in and started getting things going for us. Everything started to pick up from there,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell was 7-for-8 from the line and scored 14 of his 22 points in the first half which ended with the Centaurs enjoying a 45-31 lead.
Mitchell, who is being recruited by a host of major Division I schools, had a slow start to the season, scoring only eight points in the win Nov. 3.
He used a little needling by Olympus Prep to get the fire started on Sunday.
“I felt a lot better than (Saturday). My performance from the free throw line (2-for-6), and everything beyond that (Saturday), but (Olympus Prep) started talking to me (Sunday) and I just went from there,” Mitchell said.
The Centaurs’ center got the first basket of the second half which ignited a 15-4 run for Woodstock Academy that increased the lead to 25, 60-35.
UMass-bound Preston Santos (12 points) and Trey Anderson each had crowd-pleasing dunks in the early run.
Anderson, a 6-7 native of San Diego, was a key in the easy Nov. 3.
He celebrated his birthday with a 15-point effort in the easy win over the Olympus Grey squad.
“We came out ready to play,” Anderson said.
The Centaurs scored 41 of the first 50 points and led at the half, 74-33.
“That’s what we practice. We get up a lot of shots,
Woodstock Academy hit 15 3-pointers in the first half alone and finished with 23.
Anderson had four of those.
“That’s what we’re used to,” Anderson said.
Anderson said he has already received some benefits of playing at Woodstock Academy.
“I’m getting used to playing better talented, stronger, bigger guys. I’m used to it now,” Anderson said.
Anderson was only one of seven players in double figures for the Gold in the opening win.
Matt Cross, who had 4 3-pointers as well, also scored 15 with Danny Dade, who played for the Blue squad a year ago, chipping in 14.
Both Romar Reid and Jacob Toppin scored 12 each for the Centaurs.
“It was a pretty good start for us,” Mitchell said of the 2-0 record. “We put over 100 points in both games. We hit 100 with like 10 minutes left in the game (Saturday) which is crazy. These guys are coming to compete. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to do what they have to, to get a scholarship.”
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
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