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Michael Speight’s scorching shooting night powers Wise past Bladensburg Michael Speight’s scorching shooting night powers Wise past Bladensburg
(35 minutes later)
Wise junior Michael Speight has enjoyed plenty of strong shooting performances since he picked up a basketball as a child, dating back to the game-winning three-pointer he hit as a 10-year-old playing in his first organized game at the Suitland Recreation Center. But Friday night’s barrage, when Speight propelled the Pumas to a 76-63 victory over Bladensburg in Upper Marlboro, was “up there with the best of them,” he said with a smile outside the locker room. Wise junior Michael Speight has enjoyed plenty of strong shooting performances since he picked up a basketball as a child, dating to the game-winning three-pointer he hit as a 10-year-old playing in his first organized game at the Suitland Recreation Center. But Friday night’s barrage, when Speight scored 31 points to propel the Pumas to a 76-63 victory over Bladensburg in Upper Marlboro, was “up there with the best of them,” he said with a smile outside the locker room.
Behind its dynamic marksman, Wise (8-3, 5-1 Prince George’s 4A) overcame several defensive lapses and pulled away late for its sixth straight win. Speight led the charge, scoring a season-high 31 points by hitting seven three-pointers, including three in a row to start the fourth quarter as the Pumas pushed their lead into double digits. Behind its dynamic marksman, Wise (8-3, 5-1 Prince George’s 4A) overcame several defensive lapses and pulled away late for its sixth straight win. Speight led the charge by hitting seven three-pointers, including three in a row to start the fourth quarter as the Pumas pushed their lead into double digits.
Guard Brent Pegram added 18 points and several steals, while junior Darron Barnes scored 13 points working in the paint against Bladensburg’s 2-3 zone defense. But their teammate put on a shooting clinic. Guard Brent Pegram added 18 points and several steals, while forward Darron Barnes scored 13 points working in the paint against Bladensburg’s 2-3 zone defense. But their teammate put on a shooting clinic.
Speight and Barnes opened the contest by scoring Wise’s first 13 points, and Speight swished his first two shots from behind the arc. Pegram knew immediately that he needed to “keep feeding him the ball.”Speight and Barnes opened the contest by scoring Wise’s first 13 points, and Speight swished his first two shots from behind the arc. Pegram knew immediately that he needed to “keep feeding him the ball.”
Speight, a 6-foot-3 Division I prospect, then closed the first half with a three-pointer on a jump shot from near halfcourt that left the entire crowd impressed. Speight, a 6-foot-2 Division I prospect, then closed the first half with a three-pointer on a jump shot from near halfcourt that left the entire crowd impressed.
Bladensburg (7-4, 4-2) proved to be pesky, hanging around by attacking the offensive glass despite a size disadvantage and a six-player rotation. Senior Prince Obike had 18 points and guard Kyree Jenkins chipped in 17 points. The Mustangs had an answer whenever the Pumas made a run through three quarters. Bladensburg (7-4, 4-2) proved to be pesky, hanging around by attacking the offensive glass despite a size disadvantage and a six-player rotation. Prince Obike had 18 points and fellow senior Kyree Jenkins chipped in 17 points. The Mustangs had an answer whenever the Pumas made a run through three quarters.
But Speight had too much in his arsenal during crunch time, part of a night in which his preternatural shooting touch came through again.But Speight had too much in his arsenal during crunch time, part of a night in which his preternatural shooting touch came through again.
“I was feeling it,” he said. “I knew I was on, so I wanted to continue to hit shots.”“I was feeling it,” he said. “I knew I was on, so I wanted to continue to hit shots.”
Nonetheless, Wise Coach Rob Garner spent his postgame talk reminding the team, “we didn’t really win the way we wanted to,” Speight noted. Nonetheless, Wise Coach Rob Garner spent his postgame talk reminding the team, “we didn’t really win the way we wanted to.”.
The Pumas entered the season with state championship aspirations after adding 6-foot-7 Northwestern transfer Saiquan Jamison to the starting lineup following a run to the 4A South region final a year ago. But they began this campaign by losing three of their first five games, including consecutive defeats to No. 13 Eleanor Roosevelt and No. 12 Riverdale Baptist last month.The Pumas entered the season with state championship aspirations after adding 6-foot-7 Northwestern transfer Saiquan Jamison to the starting lineup following a run to the 4A South region final a year ago. But they began this campaign by losing three of their first five games, including consecutive defeats to No. 13 Eleanor Roosevelt and No. 12 Riverdale Baptist last month.
Both setbacks forced Wise to re-focus its attention on the defensive end, although Friday was another reminder that “we need to pick it up altogether,” according to Pegram. Still, the Pumas can feel the momentum building, and it doesn’t hurt having a shooter capable of knocking down jumpers from all over the gym on their side.Both setbacks forced Wise to re-focus its attention on the defensive end, although Friday was another reminder that “we need to pick it up altogether,” according to Pegram. Still, the Pumas can feel the momentum building, and it doesn’t hurt having a shooter capable of knocking down jumpers from all over the gym on their side.
“We needed to bounce back,” Pegram said, and the losses “gave us motivation for the whole season.”“We needed to bounce back,” Pegram said, and the losses “gave us motivation for the whole season.”