Saints finish Academies' Classic undefeated

Staff

Published Monday, December 23, 2002

Robert Crumpler scored 10 points and Brandon Winslow and Nate Grover had nine each as Nansemond-Suffolk Academy finished the 2002 Academies' Christmas Classic basketball tournament at 2-0 on Saturday afternoon, defeating Southampton Academy 59-34 (the Saints knocked off Tidewater Academy on Friday).

"It was our killer instinct!" said Andy Rivernbark, who scored four points in the game. "We kicked them when they were down and kept our foot on their head! It feels great to win our two games on our home court!"

The Saints (4-3) jumped out to a 17-4 lead to end the first quarter, and the Raiders never got closer than seven. Crumpler, Rivernbark and Bo Garner scored to extend the lead to 24-14 before Clay Pearson outjumped the Saint defense for a layup with 1:30 left in the first half.

The Raiders wouldn't score again for nearly six minutes. Meanwhile, Grover, Crumpler, Garrett Starkey, Allen Bynum and Winslow led NSA on a 15-0 run that netted them a 41-16 lead.

According to Rivenbark, that run was the fatal blow to Southampton. "Once we went on that run, they folded and gave up!" he said.

Ronald Ricks and Todd Harrell scored nine of their team's 12 fourth-quarter points. "We couldn't let them come back," said Ricks, a junior. "This lets us know what we can do for the rest of the season."

Nansemond-Suffolk will return to action at Peninsula Catholic on Jan. 7.

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