City of Basketball Love

Konner Metz (@konner_metz)
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Francis Bowe isn’t exactly sure what word properly describes the play of Archbishop Carroll’s three starting guards, referring to senior Dean Coleman-Newsome, sophomore Jake West and freshman Ian Williams as a dangerous backcourt “triplet.”

After a 71-55 triumph over Germantown Academy on Saturday, three-headed monster might be a more accurate moniker. 

“I feel like at any time, all three of them can go off, two of the three [or] one of the three,” Bowe said. “But they’re all dangerous in their own way and they all try to make each other better.”

What the Patriots have to offer in the backcourt was on full display at West Chester University in Saturday’s first of three Inter-Ac vs. Catholic League matchups. Carroll (3-0) defeated GA (1-3) behind impressive performances from Williams (23 pts) and West (21 pts).

The two younger guards rose to the occasion on an off day for the Division I recruit Coleman-Newsome, who fouled out in the second half with just seven points. 

“We know what to do when he’s not out [on the court],” West said. “We just need to share the ball, play well together.”

Exactly that happened Saturday, with West and Williams each connecting on four 3-pointers. Others had quieter days: Coleman-Newsome had a few euro-step makes inside and senior forward Blake Deegan chipped in with seven points.

Carroll’s proficiency even when their seniors aren’t leading the way in scoring makes their offense a headache to defend. 

“Even though Dean might have been in foul trouble, when he was in, he was finding these guys, Bowe said. “Jake’s shot – outstanding. Ian shot the ball well, too, with a couple freshman mistakes here and there. If Ian and Jake can really open up the floor when you take away a Dean, now you gotta respect that,” Bowe said. “And then it’s gonna open up the floor again for Dean.”

The three-guard tandem all begins with Williams, who is often seen bringing the ball up the floor and driving to the paint for a kick out. The 15-year-old is the point guard and facilitator for the Patriots offense and has been in the starting lineup since the summer.
 

West said his backcourt-mate has already grown notably from Philly Live in June to today, a fast ascension that is in part thanks to Williams’ comfort with the point guard position. 

“I’ve just been doing it since a young age, since like 6th grade,” the 5-9 Williams said. “I’m a small guard, so facilitating, keeping my rhythm, playing defense and doing what I can to help my team win.”

And for what the freshman lacks in age, he makes up for in intangibles – second on the team in drawn charges according to Bowe. The Patriots coach knows freshman mistakes will happen, but Williams’ responses to those blunders have impressed him.

“Sometimes with freshmen and just young kids in general, when you bark or give a direction or give criticism, you worry about them folding,” Bowe said. “Instead, he accepts it.”

After an airball jumper in the first quarter of Saturday’s win, Bowe was happy how Williams immediately came to the bench and took responsibility, vowing to get his teammates better involved.

That moment was just an on-court example of Williams’ normal character. His coach raved about his off-court mannerisms, from his pleases and thank yous to his greeting of every adult he encounters at Carroll.

“What I call him is the mayor of the school,” Bowe said. “And that’s how he plays on the court, too.”

Carroll had no easy path to a victory against GA, led by sophomore guard Bryce Rollerson. He scored 10 of his team’s 13 first-quarter points.

Then, five consecutive Rollerson points in the second quarter cut an 11-point deficit to six. Carroll recovered, though, with a third first-half triple from West with under five seconds before the buzzer that put the lead at 37-28.

A corner three from West in the second half put Carroll up 44-34, but Germantown once again fought back with six straight points to pull within four. However, that was as close as it got, as Williams hit a 3-pointer out of a timeout to grab the momentum back.

Williams notched the final five points of the third quarter to put Carroll up 57-44 before the final eight minutes, a lead too decisive for GA to handle in the fourth.

Rollerson was largely ineffective after his 17-point explosion in the first half, only making two field goals and two free throws in the second half.

Despite a reserved statline, GA often struggled to contend with Deegan’s size and board abilities in the paint. In the fourth quarter, it was a Deegan step-out triple that expanded Carroll’s advantage to 17 and effectively sealed the game.

By Quarter
Carroll:  21  |  16  |  20  |  14  ||  71
GA:       13  |  15  |  16  |  11  ||  55

Scoring
Carroll: Williams 23, West 21, Alleyne 8, Coleman-Newsome 7, Deegan 7, Rogers 5
GA: Rollerson 23, Johnson 8, Presley 7, Brooks 6, Nolan 6, Topley 5