Garrison MVP For 5th Time

The awards for DeMatha (MD) and Maryland-signee Travis Garrison keep coming in as he completes his senior prep year on the basketball court. Last month, Garrison was named to the McDonald's All-America game and the Jordan Brand Capital Classic.

And this past weekend, Garrison (right), who led DeMatha Catholic H.S. (32-3) to the championship of the 42nd Annual Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament, was named the event's Most Valuable Player. Amazingly, this was the fifth MVP award for Garrison this season, according to assistant coach Neal Murphy. Garrison was also named to the All-Tournament first team.

The title game was a rematch between DeMatha, from Hyattsville MD, and Bishop O'Connell H.S. (30-7), from Arlington, VA. The schools had met three times this season, splitting the regular season contests, with DeMatha winning the Washington Catholic Athletic Association title game, 60-50. DeMatha, as most readers know, is coached by Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten. O'Connell is led by its head coach Joe Wootten, the Hall of Famer's son.

And there was a top matchup of sorts at the game with O'Connell's top sophomore center Brian Johnson facing Garrison. But DeMatha had additional interior fire power to bring to the game with 6-8 junior Stanley Danley and 6-8 freshman Desmond Adedeji. Adedeji didn't see action in the semifinal win over Philadelphia's St. Joseph's Prep; he would get significant court time in the O'Connell matchup on Saturday.

DeMatha took an early lead in the contest as Garrison scored 10 of the Stags 17 points in the first half. Feeds from Danley and 6-3 junior Germaine Green resulted in towering dunks by Garrison. But it was Garrison's feed to senior guard Warren Williams for a three point play and a 15-6 lead that resulted in O'Connell's first time out.

Five points, a three from 5-8 sophomore point guard Erik Smith and a stretching lay-in by Johnson closed the first quarter at 17-11. An 11-5 run to start the second extended DeMatha's lead to 28-16; at halftime the tally was 38-25.

The margin was reduced to 46-42 as the third period ended. Johnson hit 6-4 freshman Marcus Ginyard for a traditional three-point play to open the final stanza and bring the game to within one at 46-45 after just 10 seconds had timed off the clock.

O'Connell pressed but DeMatha's Green saved a long downcourt pass and hit Garrison for a dunk and the lead back to 48-45. DeMatha again pushed up the lead but the Knights weren't about to quit. A three-pointer by Erik Smith brought the margin back to two at 61-59 with 53 seconds left in the game. DeMatha's solid shooting at the line, they hit seven of eight free throws in the final minute, enabled the Stags to capture the game and the title.

Garrison finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. He was the highest scorer at the event with 22.3 points. DeMatha's senior guard tandem hit double figures: Williams added 14 points (three field goals from behind the arc) and nine assists while Corey McCrae, a Wagner-signee, added 12 points. Williams, who severely injured his ankle in the semifinals, received All-Tournament second team honors.

Johnson, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and the All-Tournament first team, had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots. He led the tournament with a three-game average of 11.3 rebounds. Sophomore Freddie Stanback, a 6-4, 185 pound swingman, added 14 points. O'Connell's guard tandem of the Smiths also made their mark: Erik had 10 points, four assists and three steals while Ahmad Smith, a St. Bonaventure signee, had 10 points and four assists.