GMC earns landmark win over J.L. Mann
Braylen Silver’s 17 points and timely three-pointers helped lead Greer Middle College to its first-ever win over a 5-A program, downing J.L. Mann 65-59 in the Poinsettia Classic.
If Greer Middle College basketball needed a litmus test for its potential this season, it came at the recent Poinsettia Classic tournament at Greenville High.
For the first time in program history, GMC took down a 5-A team, knocking off J.L. Mann 65-59 in the tournament’s opening round.
“This is one of the toughest Christmas tournaments in the state of South Carolina,” said GMC coach Jamar Armstrong. “To get a win here is big time. And to beat an athletic 5-A team like J.L. Mann, it says a lot about where we are as a program.”
The Blazers and Patriots played a tight contest from the opening tip until the final buzzer. GMC did manage to form a 47-38 lead in the third quarter, but a fiery run led by J.L. Mann guard Jeremy Cook helped the Patriots take a 50-49 lead into the final frame.
GMC pulled away late in the fourth quarter, however, thanks largely to timely shooting from junior guard Braylen Silver. Silver hit a late three to give the Blazers the lead for good, and his high-pressure free throws with under a minute to go sealed GMC’s win.
Silver finished with a team-high 17 points in the game.
“I was just hot tonight,” said Silver. “Whenever I see one go in, I just love to keep shooting.”
“Braylen’s probably one of the best shooters in the upstate,” said Armstrong. “He’s a volume shooter who could get hot at anytime. He lives for the big moments like these.”
The Blazers moved onto the semifinals of the Poinsettia Classic, where they’d ultimately fall 46-34 in a defensive battle to Cardinal Newman, one of the top SCISA teams in the state.
In the tournament’s third-place game, GMC held a lead over Fort Dorchester — the No. 9 team in 5-A — for most of the contest. A late surge from Fort Dorchester prevented the Blazers from picking up another landmark win, however. Jack Pfister’s 33 points and 12 boards weren’t quite enough as GMC fell 69-65 to finish fourth place out of eight teams.
GMC — now 9-3 on the season — is on its first losing streak of the season. But Armstrong says this weekend’s Poinsettia Classic proved what he knew from the beginning of the season.
The Blazers can hang with anyone.
“Since I’ve been here, this is the best start to a season we’ve had,” said Armstrong. “The quality wins we’re picking up this year, it’s incredible. It comes down to these guys having worked so hard in the fall leagues before the season, playing against big 5-A schools. They want this.
“Our guys have seen a lot and won a lot of games. But our seniors want to end their careers on the highest note. They’re motivated, and it’s showing on the court.”
THE SCORE BY QUARTERS
GMC 18 12 19 16 - 65
J.L. Mann 17 11 22 9 - 59
STAT LEADERS
Braylen Silver - 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Jack Pfister - 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
Musa Muriithi - 13 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists
Titus Shenton - 13 points, 4 rebounds, assist
THE SCORE BY QUARTERS
GMC 12 4 10 8 - 34
Cardinal Newman 4 14 14 14 - 46
STAT LEADERS
Jack Pfister - 10 points, 11 rebounds
Nick Dyenson - 8 points
Braylen Silver - 8 points
THE SCORE BY QUARTERS
GMC 13 20 18 14 - 65
Fort Dorchester 16 10 20 23 - 69
STAT LEADERS
Jack Pfister - 33 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks
Braylen Silver - 14 points
Titus Shenton - 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals