VYPE U: Tompkins Sneaks in Late Victory Over Davis in Holiday Hoops Classic
The Tompkins Falcons showed out Friday in their first game at the 2019 VYPE-Aldine ISD Tournament Presented by the United States Marine Corps in a late come from behind win over the Aldine Davis Falcons. Davis stayed ahead for most of the game until Tompkins was able to find the spark they needed to capitalize on a comeback. Sophomore guard BB Knight led Tompkins to victory, scoring 26 points.
Davis led Tompkins throughout most of the first half and was helped by senior guard Greg Crawford on the offensive end. Davis was able to build a double digit lead, but Tompkins was able to cut into the lead with a pair of three pointers from BB Knight and Bryson Morehead. Davis still led 27-20 after the first quarter.
Davis, however, would not let Tompkins get any closer in the second quarter. A timely three by Greg Crawford and a ferocious dunk by 6'6" senior forward Ju'Quan Irvin were enough to fuel the team to a 33-25 halftime lead. Crawford led the way with 11 points and one made three.
Tompkins was able to make things interesting in the third, cutting the lead to as low a three points at one point. However, with 1:20 left in the third quarter, Davis got its second dunk of the game when Ja'Quan Lewis intercepted a pass and took it all the way to the basket, allowing Davis to go up by eight heading into the final quarter.
Tompkins caught its lucky break when Crawford, Davis's leading scorer with 22 points, fouled out with 3:38 left in the game. This turned out to be a weakness for Davis because Tompkins was still within reach of Davis's score and was not completely out of the game yet. With 1:51 left in the game, Tompkins tied the game at 64 with a clutch three by Knight.
Senior forward Hank Sanders would then help seal the game for Tompkins, first hitting a go ahead three to take a 67-64 lead before getting a defensive rebound on the other end right after. Davis would not be able to score again leaving Tompkins with the win 71-64.
They will advance to play Sam Houston, while Davis will face St. John XXIII in the consolation bracket. Sanders is already thinking ahead for Tompkins's next game against Sam Houston and plans to help Tompkins get more rebounds. "I'm going to try and get more rebounds than I just got. I feel like that would help," said Sanders in a post-game interview after playing Davis.
The 2019 VYPE-Aldine ISD Holiday Hoops Classic Presented by the United States Marine Corps championship game will be played at 4:30 PM on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center.