Antranik Edge Chabeb El Batroun, 90-87
In a nail-biting D1M contest at Chabeb El Batroun, Antranik escaped with a 90-87 victory over Chabeb El Batroun on Saturday, January 24. Christian Brown led the charge for Antranik with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Antranik took a 47-39 lead into halftime. The second quarter was the decisive stretch, with Antranik outscoring their opponents 25-17 to swing the momentum in their favor. Chabeb El Batroun closed the game strong with a 29-21 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. D. Hall (Chabeb El Batroun) threw down a powerful dunk in the third quarter, one of 3 dunks in the game. M. Al Malla (Chabeb El Batroun) connected from beyond the arc in the second quarter during a crucial stretch. D. Hall was a force on the defensive end with 11 blocks.
Christian Brown was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks in 37 minutes of action. He shot 9-of-17 (53%) from the field, 1-of-4 (25%) from three-point range, 6-of-8 (75%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Jeremiah Gambrell Jr. provided valuable support with 28 points, 5 assists, including 4 three-pointers. Gabriel Salibi also chipped in with 10 points off the starting lineup.
The Antranik bench added 12 points to the cause. Kevork Kevork was the standout reserve, providing 12 points in a spark-plug role. Antranik also generated 31 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Antranik held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 51% compared to Chabeb El Batroun's 36%. From beyond the arc, Antranik connected on 12-of-30 (40%) while Chabeb El Batroun managed just 9-of-30 (30%).
Antranik was in control for much of the game, putting together a 11-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Antranik put together a 11-0 run in the third quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond. Chabeb El Batroun answered with a 10-0 run of their own, keeping the contest competitive.
Down the stretch, Antranik came up clutch when it mattered most. J. Gambrell JR. nailed a clutch free throw with 00:09 remaining to help seal the victory. It was a white-knuckle finish that had both benches on their feet until the final buzzer.
For Chabeb El Batroun, Desmond Washington was the standout performer in defeat with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals. Darious Hall added 30 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.