Almamy Thiero Sparks Mount Zion Past Longwood
MIDDLE ISLAND, NEW YORK -- Yes Virginia, there is only one Chaminade. For a half, Longwood High School thought there was a chance for a second.
Overmatched Longwood High School thrilled a hometown crowd last night at the Rim Rocker tournament by taking a two-point lead at the half over the talent-rich program of Mount Zion Christian Academy of North Carolina.
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However, in the third quarter those visions of a grand upset evaporated under the inside strength of Almamy Thiero and the tremendous outside shooting of Glen Dandrige. Mount Zion closed out Longwood in effective fashion in the fourth with a 77-57 semifinal victory.
Mount Zion will face Celestial Prep in the final tonight at Longwood High School while Longwood will play in the consolation bracket against Our Savior New American in the afternoon.
Longwood was tied 15-15 after the first quarter and led 29-27 in the second. At one stage of the second quarter, Longwood held a six-point lead. This was due mainly to the outside shooting of guard Brian Treffert, who nailed five three-pointers in the game. He finished with 17 points for Longwood.
But the third quarter swung the game completely around. Dandrige finished the game with six three-pointers and 20 points while Thiero pounded the interior of the Longwood defense. Thiero, headed to Memphis next season, scored 17 points. Dana Burns had 12 points for the winners.