Offense Explodes for 132 Points in Home-Opening Win
William Penn’s JC Washington in action against Maranatha Baptist on Saturday.
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen men’s basketball team gave the home crowd in Penn Gymnasium a preview of what may be to come this winter as it rolled past Maranatha Baptist (Wis.) 132-85 in non-conference play Saturday.
#3 William Penn (4-0) is undefeated through its first four games for the third time in the last six seasons. Saturday’s win was the easiest of the season thus far as the navy and gold outshot the Sabercats 54.7%-39.2% and held a 56-32 edge in rebounding.
The point tally is the fifth-highest in program history and the highest since WPU scored a school-record 151 against Grinnell on December 9, 2014.
The hosts scored the first five points of the afternoon and quickly pulled out to a 19-5 advantage just 3:26 into the contest. The offense clicked on all cylinders in the first 20 minutes to the tune of 65.0% shooting and a 74-43 lead.
WPU pushed the edge to 57 points midway through the second half and coasted to the win. The victors pulled down 19 offensive boards en route to outscoring MBU 29-10 in second-chance points. They also committed three fewer turnovers (16-19) and capitalized on those opportunities with a 25-13 margin in points off mistakes.
Six Statesmen reached double figures with Dominique Shaw (Sr., Lufkin, Texas, Wellness and Recreation) guiding the way with 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting (4-for-7 3-PT). Shaw also dished out seven assists.
Headlined by a strong perimeter show of his own (six three-pointers), Corbin Medley (Sr., Rogersville, Mo., General Accounting) was next on the scoring list with 20 points.
Terrell Thompson (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Wellness and Recreation) was on point all over the court with a near triple-double of 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. The senior stole three balls as well.
JC Washington (Sr., Houston, Texas, Sociology) recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in addition to two blocks, while Brandon Trotter (Sr., Louisville, Ky., Kinesiology) finished one carom shy of the feat with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Jovontae Carleton (Jr., El Cerrito, Calif., Sociology) matched Trotter with 14 points, while Mikeal Donaldson (Sr., Columbia, S.C.) added nine points Saturday. Darius Wheeler (Jr., Jonesboro, Ga., Sports Administration) was good for seven points, and the duo of Marquis Todd (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Wellness and Recreation) and Eddie Daley (Fr., DeWitt, Mich., Sports Management) contributed five points each off the bench.
Next Up: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa next Saturday to host Moody Bible (Ill.) in non-conference action at 3 p.m.
