*****Playing the fields/Fields and checking out the games, with Michael Fields from Guilford Technical Community College for GreensboroSports.com….*****
It was an insane matchup Tuesday night in Pleasant Garden!
Big-time rivals Gospel Light Christian and Vandalia Christian were ready to play again. This game had a huge impact on postseason play. Both teams had one conference loss. Gospel Light’s loss came from Vandalia Christian the following Friday at their place (Walkertown, NC). It was a big game for both teams. Gospel Light wanted revenge. They wanted to get a key win at Vandalia Christian. Vandalia Christian wanted the win as well. They did not want to drop a conference game at home, especially to Gospel Light Christian.
It was interesting for me. Both teams had a solid three players. They each had their Big Three. Gospel Light had a tremendous point guard, shooting guard, and post man. They had to go up against Vandalia’s Big Three. That is Cam Alston, Jared Talley, and Noah Dunn. I was curious to see which Big Three won on that night in Pleasant Garden. Gospel Light came out of the gate ready to play. Vandalia wasn’t really expecting that. They were expecting Gospel Light to come out to play, but not like this. Gospel Light controlled the first quarter from start to finish. They almost had twenty points in the quarter. Vandalia did not let them trample them though. They played their game as well. They were still in the game after the first quarter. Vandalia tried to keep chipping away at the lead through the second quarter. Gospel Light would not let that happen. Gospel Light went into halftime with almost a ten point lead.
I will give Vandalia credit though. It would’ve been really easy for them to put their heads down and been defeated. That was not the case though. They came out of halftime fired up. They were ready to play. They showed Gospel Light how they liked to play at home for the home crowd. Vandalia owned that quarter and chipped into the Gospel Light lead. Gospel Light responded in the fourth quarter.
There were many times in the quarter where if Gospel Light would’ve missed then the momentum of the game would drastically change. That did not happen though. Gospel Light’s point guard, shooting guard, or post player hit clutch shot after clutch shot. It seemed like Vandalia just could not get a stop when they needed to get one. Vandalia played pretty good offensively in the last quarter, but they just could not keep that same intensity on the defensive end. Gospel Light handed Vandalia their first home loss of the season.
I would say that Gospel Light’s Big Three outplayed Vandalia’s Big Three. I am sure that Vandalia will get another crack at Gospel Light come playoff time. It will be interesting to see who wins that battle when it counts the most.
1 2 3 4 Final GLCS 19 11 6 19 55 VCS 14 7 12 11 44
Records for both teams
GLCS (18-5 overall; 8-1 conference; 9-2 away)
VCS (19-4 overall; 8-2 conference; 6-1 home)
Key Players for VCS
Noah Dunn: 20 points; 8 rebounds
Jared Talley: 7 points
Matt Hobbs: 6 points
Bryson Gordon: 5 points
Cameron Alston: 4 points; 4 assists
Next game:
GLCS @ Faith Christian tonight (Ramseur, NC)
VCS vs. Wilson Christian Academy tonight (Pleasant Garden, NC)