Antonine Survive Against Antranik, 83-82
In a nail-biting D1M contest at Demerjian Center, Antonine escaped with a 83-82 victory over Antranik on Sunday, December 7. Clint Chapman led the charge for Antonine with a game-high 24 points and 8 rebounds. The lead changed hands 16 times before Antonine eventually pulled away for good.
Antonine took a 43-37 lead into halftime. The third quarter was the decisive stretch, with Antranik outscoring their opponents 22-13 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 6 dunks in total, with B. Hulms (Antonine) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. M. Martinez (Antonine) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter during a crucial stretch. G. Salibi was a force on the defensive end with 6 blocks.
Clint Chapman was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists in 32 minutes of action. He shot 8-of-16 (50%) from the field, 2-of-7 (29%) from three-point range, 6-of-7 (86%) from the free-throw line. Ricky Ledo provided valuable support with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals. Brian Halums also chipped in with 18 points off the starting lineup.
Antonine also generated 24 second-chance points and 11 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Antonine at 42% and Antranik at 43%. Antonine also had the advantage at the charity stripe, converting 12 free throws to Antranik's 23.
Down the stretch, Antonine came up clutch when it mattered most. C. Chapman nailed a clutch free throw with 00:03 remaining to help seal the victory. It was a white-knuckle finish that had both benches on their feet until the final buzzer.
Despite the result, Majur Majak showed his quality for Antranik, contributing 18 points, 13 rebounds. Jeremiah Gambrell Jr. added 28 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.