Basketball: T.J. Small breaks school scoring mark to lead Brother Martin to Grace King Tournament title

Area Prep Basketball Report for Sunday, Nov. 24

With his team playing their fourth game in four nights Saturday, Brother Martin coach Chris Biehl was worried about fatigue setting in for the eight players he had dressed out for Saturday night’s championship game of the Grace King Tournament.

After a lethargic start that saw his squad down 10 to 5 to the East Jefferson Warriors five minutes into the game, Biehl called his second timeout.

“I was trying everything possible to get energy into the gym,” Biehl said.

Obviously, Senior captain T.J.” Small heard his coach’s call.

T.J. Small rallied his team, and the Crusaders awakened and went on to a convincing 89-66 victory to win the Grace King Tournament.

An Army West Point commit, Small smashed Brother Martin’s single-game scoring record by scoring 49 points, a record previously held by long-time NBA player DJ Augustin, along with Darwyn Alexander, Pat Swilling, and Tyler Epps, each of whom scored 41 points.

“What is most impressive about TJ’s performance tonight is that he scored 49 points on 25 field goal attempts,” Biehl said.

Small finished the night shooting 6 for 11 from the three-point line and grabbed 11 rebounds in the game. His last basket came with three minutes left in the contest in the form of a coast-to-coast drive, including a behind-the-back dribble through traffic, capped off with a monster dunk.

T.J.’s stellar night in the championship game was aided by a solid supporting cast.

Junior Grant Delord finished the night with 14 points and four assists. Freshman Corey Skillman also added 11 points and four rebounds, and sophomore Jace Patin scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds.

“Our roster was really slim this week since we are waiting on a few players from football and a couple of minor injuries,” Biehl said. “Rex Hernandez, Jace Patin, and Marvin Jones had to learn all of our offenses at new positions in the past forty-eight hours. That is incredibly difficult, and it is a credit to them.”

During the four-day tournament, the Crusaders defeated McDonogh35 56 to 23, Livingston Collegiate 82 to 32, Bonnabel 57 to 51, and East Jefferson 89 to 66.

Small was named Tournament MVP.

The Crusaders (4-0) will host Abramson Sci Academy on Tuesday night at Conlin Gym. Varsity tip-off will be at 5 P.M.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Saturday, Nov. 23

Boys

Archbishop Shaw 41, West Jefferson 39

Bonnabel 59, Grace King 51

Brother Martin 84, East Jefferson 56

Carver 68, Newman 56

Doyle 64, Midland 42

Fontainebleau 76, Pine 39

Livingston Collegiate 73, Belle Chasse 39

Port Allen 59, Sophie B. Wright 55

Riverdale 62, Cohen 44

Slidell 86, Amite 36

Runnels 75, Destrehan 54