Game Report: Bull City Prep at NGFS Boys Basketball – From Friday Night

Special Report from L.A. Logan

Senior guard Kanayo Obi-Rapu Jr. scored 22 of his 40 points in the second half to lead New Garden Friends’ School (15-7) past Bull City Prep 92-77 on Friday night.

“It was one of, if not our best game as a team,” said Obi-Rapu Jr.

Obi-Rapu Jr., who also dished out six assists, hit six three-pointers, grabbed five rebounds and forced five steals as NGFS closed the game on a 15-2 run.

“We just gave effort the entire game and it showed on the court,” Obi-Rapu Jr. added.

After picking up three fouls in the first-half, senior center Ikenna Smart battled back to finish the game with 11 points and eight rebounds.

“We played tenacious defense,” said Smart. “We were mentally prepared.”

Junior forward Kingsley Nzekwe added 14 points, and senior point-guard Kane Ma and junior guard Sterling Holland each had 10 points.

In the two teams’ last meeting, Bull City prevailed behind junior forward Isaiah Maurice and junior guard Gloive Biongo, who combined to score 52 points.

On this night, the two only combined to score 17 points. Maurice finished with a team-high 15 points and Biongo only scored six.

But 10 different players scored at least one basket for Bull City Prep.

The Bears held a 39-37 advantage at halftime after Obi-Rapu Jr. found Ma for a jumper from the right wing. Ma also had seven assists.

NGFS never trailed again after that bucket.

Junior Josh Bagely did keep it close when he hit a three-pointer from the right corner that rolled around and in that cut Bull City’s deficit to one, 58-57, at the end of the third quarter.

With 3:11 remaining in the game, Obi-Rapu Jr. came up with one of his five steals and finished with a right-handed tomahawk slam that ignited the crowd and gave the Bears’ the momentum it needed to finish the game.

NGFS’s defense held Bull City to two points after the 3:07 mark.

“I was very pleased with how aggressively the team played defense,” said NGFS head coach Dave Secor. “They protected the paint and blocked out very well. They attacked the perimeter shooters, forcing hurried and off balanced shots.”