Cary Invasion Beats High Point 125-112
Cary, NC — On Saturday, March 12, 2016, the Cary Invasion beat the High Point Heat 125-112.
Cary Invasion Returns to its Winning Ways
This TRBL game was a near repeat of the game the High Point Heat and the Cary Invasion played earlier in the season, with the Invasion remaining firmly in control from tip-off to final buzzer.
That’s not to say the Heat didn’t give the Invasion a game – High Point battled back a couple of times to give Cary a fright but, despite the minimal attendance due to the ACC and NCHSAA Championships being played concurrently, it was simply a case of Cary’s “home court advantage” making the difference.
High Point had four players scoring double digits – high team scorer Christain Jones with 23, Dupree Hall with 21 (three of them 3’s), Leshawn Alexander contributing 18 and Shaq Barber adding 12. Defensively, both teams rebounded equally, while, offensively, the Heat doubled the Invasion’s rebounding production.
For Cary, the game could have been called the “Wright-Callwood Show.”
Game-leading scorer guard Paul Wright controlled the game, delivering 44-points (nine of them 3’s), while power forward Rodney Callwood added 24-points from the floor and 12-points from the line for a season high 36-points. Guard Raheem Jalliffe contributed 17 more (four of them 3’s) and point guard JJ Barbee finished-up with 11-points and 13-assists. Wright, Barbee and multipurpose guard Jeff Legree each scored 5-points from the line. The Heat came on strong in the fourth quarter, but it was too-little-too-late, and after the dust had settled Cary pulled it out 125-112.
If Invasion utility guard Paul ‘Tay’ Wright continues to compile the points, as he has all season, he should be a League candidate for Player of the Year. The veteran pro player has been a TRBL All-Star standout since joining the Invasion.
And, at halftime, those fans in attendance were treated to a dance presentation medley given by Durham’s Ninth Street Pop Squad. Plenty of cell phones were filming the Squad’s highly choreographed performance, giving them a huge round of applause when completed. The Pop Squad was created by former Invasion dancer Erika Vinson who, although quite pregnant, led the all-women team through their kicks, jumps and flights.
One other note of interest – it is becoming increasingly gratifying to see a number of youth regularly lined-up to fist-bump, palm-slap and generally offer words of encouragement to the Invasion players and coaches as they enter and exit Kay Yow Court.
Next Home Game
The next scheduled game for the Cary Invasion (9-7) will be Saturday, March 19, 2016 when they host Greensboro (0-0) in the Cobras’ first TRBL game of the season. When these two teams met last season, Cary prevailed 130-98.
Story by Doc Thorne, Cary Invasion Owner. Photo by the Cary Invasion.
