Boys Basketball

Maker, Carlisle School dismantle Northwood Temple

Carlisle School traveled to Durham from Virginia to defeat Northwood Temple Academy on Monday night in the MLK Holiday Classic at Riverside High School.
Posted 2014-01-21T06:20:00+00:00 - Updated 2014-01-21T06:20:00+00:00
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The Carlisle School Chiefs of Martinsville, VA. traveled to Riverside High School on Monday night, where the team dismantled the Northwood Temple Academy Eagles, 86-48 in the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Classic.

The Chiefs were led by 23 points from Thon Maker, a seven-foot sophomore ranked as the top player in the Class of 2016, according to ESPN. Four other Carlisle players scored in double-figures. 

"I just had to use my length to the next level and use my quickness also," Maker said. "I let the game come to me. I had to look for my team early and they looked to me towards the end."

Maker scored the first four points for his team to establish the tone in the post, and the Carlisle offense then spread the defense and scored from all over the court. The Chiefs knocked down four three-pointers in the first quarter.

The deep shot was a major theme of the night for both teams, as the Chiefs and Eagles combined for 17 three-pointers in the game. Maker scored on several of his attempts from beyond the arc--a skill uncharacteristic of most seven-footers.

"He works on his perimeter game," said Carlisle head coach Jason Niblett. "He puts in a lot of time, and when a kid puts in the time and has the skills, you have to allow him to be able to show those skills."

After the plentiful early scoring, Carlisle led Northwood Temple 22-16 at the start of the second quarter. Maker and the rest of the Chiefs added to their defensive intensity in the second half and gave up 12 points in the period. They led at halftime, 42-28.

The Chiefs extended their lead in each of the next two quarters, eventually pushing the cushion to 40 points.

While Maker scored 23 points, Eric Johnson scored 18 points and Malcolm N'diaye scored 15. Matur Maker, Thon's 6-foot-10 freshman brother, scored 12 points, while Yesid Mosquera added 11 more.

"To get a win like this is a mental boost, and it gets the team spirits up," Maker said. "It helps keep us going."

Northwood Temple shot well to start the game, but declined in scoring ability as the game drug on. The Eagles were held to just seven points in the fourth quarter. On the other end of the floor, they had no answer for the Maker brothers, who both towered over the Eagle defense to get to the rim.

At the end of the game, Thon Maker was awarded the Rasheed Wallace Most Outstanding Player trophy for his performance in the Holiday Classic.

Northwood Temple Academy is a perfect 7-0 on their NCISAA Carolina Christian Conference. Carlisle School is ranked as one of the top teams in the state of Virginia. 

Follow Zach Mayo on Twitter at @ZachMayoHSOT

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