Wilberforce Controls Game

            If you have an opportunity to see any basketball team play during The 2015-2016 Season, make it The Wilberforce University (WU) Bulldogs. This team is not the same WU Bulldogs Team which you and I are used to seeing. This is a new day. The Bulldogs are playing with a purpose. They are out to prove a point. They want you; me; and everyone to know that the team can be known for something else other than losing. Whenever their name comes across the mindset and/or lips of anyone, the Bulldogs want it all to be in a positive manner. In the Alumni Multiplex (AM), WU is unbeatable. That is exactly how dominant the team has been at Home. Right now, I am going to go out on a limb. To some, what I am about to say probably will make no sense. For the remainder of the season, I firmly believe that WU “WILL NOT” lose a Home Game! That includes when the Bulldogs square off against neighboring Central State University (CSU). Of course, playing the CSU Marauders will mean that WU will be playing in a “RIVALRY GAME.” In a Rivalry Game, anything can (and will) happen. Therefore, always expect the unexpected!

            During today’s (Tuesday, December 8, 2015) ensuing game, WU will be facing the Carlow University (CU) Celtics. Will the Celtics be the team which finally defeats the Bulldogs within the AM? We are all about to find out. Wilberforce won the game’s tip-off. At 19:39, the Bulldogs turned the ball over. However, Carlow is unable to score. In fact, the Celtics end up missing two shots. With 18:35 on the clock, WU’s Devontae Berry scores the game’s first point. He made 1-Foul Shot. After that, Berry’s teammate Arthur Haggard, III took over the game. From 18:16 to 16:59, CU turned the ball over a whopping four times. WU had 2-Turnovers. During the time frame, Haggard went on an 8-0 Scoring Run. He nailed two 3-Point Baskets. At the 16:56 mark, a Timeout was called. WU possessed a 9-0 lead.

            Thus far, this game has been all “ARTHUR HAGGARD, III.” Carlow cannot stop him. As the game was about to get underway, I was wondering if Haggard could get started or not. Well, he fulfilled my curiosity. At the 16:35 mark, Carlow scored its first points. Zack Taylor made a 2-Point Basket. Eight seconds later (16:27), WU made a 2-Point Basket. Then, CU brought itself back into the game. From 15:38 to 12:24, the Bulldogs committed 3-Turnovers. The Celtics went on a 12-4 run. WU’s lead was now only 1-Point (15-14). With 12:20 on the scoreboard, a Timeout was called. Carlow has caught up to Wilberforce. Now, the Celtics trail the Bulldogs by only 1-Point (15-14). WU was looking like it was going to open up a blowout. CU did not allow that to happen.

            After the Timeout, Carlow ended up being penalized for a Traveling Violation (Turnover). Then, Haggard did it again. At 11:33, he hit a 3-Point Basket. Then, Berry made a 2-Point Basket. After the Celtics committed another turnover, Wilberforce went on a 6-0 run. During the activity, CU committed 1-Turnover. WU’s Malik Breckenridge nailed a 3-Point Basket. Soon after his conversion, the Celtics made a 2-Point Basket. Before a Timeout at 7:52, the Bulldogs go on to outscore the Celtics 4-0. WU leads CU 30-16. Wilberforce has increased its pace again. The Bulldogs are going fast and hard. Carlow cannot keep up. WU’s intensity has gone way up again. Less than 30-Seconds after the Timeout (7:26), WU turned the ball over.

            With 7:07 remaining before the Halftime Break, Carlow’s P.J. McLaughlin made a 2-Point Basket. After that, Wilberforce went on an 8-1 run. At 5:29, Devontae Berry ended the run with a Monster Slam Dunk. During the run four, different players (Keenen Smith; Michael Forrest; Maxime Maisonnet; and Berry) each scored points. From 5:08 to 3:48, CU outscored WU 8-1. The Celtics nailed two 3-Point Baskets. At the 3:23 mark, the Bulldogs turned the ball over. Then, a Timeout was called. Wilberforce possesses a 39-27 lead. Carlow is still hanging around. The game has not gotten too out of control. Eighteen seconds after the Timeout (3:05), Haggard hit a 3-Point Basket. The Celtics hit a matching 3-Point Basket. During the First Half’s last 3:05, CU committed 1-Turnover WU committed 3-Turnovers. However, WU outscored CU 6-4. At the end of the First Half, WU leads CU 48-34.

            If Carlow could find some type of answer (or stop) for Arthur Haggard and make Free Throw Attempts, the score would be much closer. Quite possibly, the Celtics could be winning the game. Wilberforce is controlling the pace of the game. The pace has been very fast. At times, Carlow has been able to slow things. However, one of the Bulldogs (especially Haggard) does something to get the team going again. In the Second Half, Carlow needs to slow the game down. If they can do that, then they still have a chance to win. The team has to make Foul Shots too. Most importantly, the Celtics have to contain Haggard and/or stop Wilberforce from making other types of big plays. As the Second Half got underway, Wilberforce has possession of the ball. Maisonnet ended up missing a Shot Attempt. At 19:28, Berry was at the basket. As he threw up a shot, it was blocked. With 19:12 on the clock, Carlow’s Charlie Scharbo made a 2-Point Basket. WU responded with an 8-0 run.

            During the run, the Celtics committed 1-Turnover. Haggard and Smith each hit a 3-Point Basket. At the 18:11 mark, a Timeout was called. Carlow cannot slow the pace down and/or take control of the fast pace. Also, Haggard is beginning to get going again. Smith is another one of the Bulldogs who is also beginning to step-up. The Bulldogs are putting this game away. With 17:58 on the clock, McLaughlin made a 2-Point Basket. During the process, he was fouled. After McLaughlin successfully made 1-Foul Shot, WU went on a 5-0 run. Haggard nailed a 3-Point Basket. Before a Timeout (15:01), McLaughlin went on a 5-0 run. WU led CU 61-44. From 14:45 to 13:28, CU committed 3-Turnovers. WU went on a 7-0 run. Berry scored 5-Points.

            From 13:15 to 12:25, the Celtics went on a 5-0 run. Miles Sunder nailed a 3-Point Basket. It was the Bulldogs’ time to shine again. The Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run. Before a Timeout at 8:33, The Celtics outscored the Bulldogs 9-3. CU’s Cole Novotney hit a 3-Point Basket. WU leads CU 77-58. Eight seconds after the Timeout (8:25), CU’s Zach Bryan made a 2-Point Basket. WU went on to commit 2-Turnovers. CU had one. However, the Bulldogs went on an 8-2 run.  Including a Monster Dunk, Berry scored 6-Points. From 4:54 to 2:51, scoring was even. Each team scored 6-Points. During the game’s final 2:43, WU outscored CU 7-5. The Bulldogs’ Zamarre Neely completed a 3-Point Play. Novotney made a 3-Point Basket. At the end of a game that the Bulldogs had basically ended in the First Half, Wilberforce was victorious. The Final Score was Wilberforce University 98 and Carlow University 75.

            To all of the Wilberforce University Bulldogs’ remaining 2015-2016 Season Opponents, allow me to give you some friendly advice. You can pay attention to my advice, and use it. Then again, you can allow it to go in one ear and out of the other one. I have no control over what you do. In fact, who am I? Like I always say, “I am just a Journalist with a big mouth and opinion.” The advice is simply this. Whenever your team steps onto a court to play Wilberforce University, please do one thing. At all times, know where Bulldogs’ players Arthur Haggard, III and Devontae Berry are both located. Keep your defense locked down on both young men. Failure to know the whereabouts of the young men can have fatal results. If you cannot control them, then they will be free to roam the court. Do you know what that means? They will be able to do whatever they choose to do. Whenever they want to do it, they will likely do just that. In conclusion, please keep the following in mind. Arthur Haggard, III is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WEAPON! This game emphatically proves that point. Mr. Haggard can end a game, and he can end the game rather quickly. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR TEAM TO BECOME A VICTIM! Just remember this. You have been warned!