Duel between MLK’s Jalen Duke and MWood’s Will Alexander was a classic.
By Scott C. Wallace Tennessee Tribune Metro Sports Writer
NORTH NASHVILLE- There was a buzz in
MLK’s Molly Kafader (left) scored her 1,000th career point.
the air at Martin Luther King High School Tuesday and major college talent on display. Even before the anticipated match-up between two of the three Pre-season All District 10AA favorites Will Alexander of Maplewood High School and MLK Royal Jalen Duke (East Nashville’s Thomas Booker is the third) you knew the night would be special.
With fall sports signing day a week ahead, college coaches from Tennessee Tech, UT-Martin and Motlow State Community College were in attendance to watch the boy’s game, MLK Lady Royal Molly Kafader (18 points) scored her 1,000th career point. Kafader along with MTSU commit Jordan Majors (13 points) and point guard Briana Smith (21 points) look to make a second consecutive trip to Murfreesboro for the state finals.
Coach Tristin Williams’ Maplewood Lady Panther team is in a rebuilding stage. Her young team gave MLK fits early but couldn’t keep up before falling 71-49. Lady Panther junior Destiny Hayes scored a game high 25 points. Senior Ariel Taylor added 16.
The boy’s game lived up to the pregame build up. MLK came out inspired taking an early lead of as many as five in the first quarter. Royal guard Donavan Henry (23 total points) led the early charge with nine points. During the second quarter, the Panther employed a 2-2-1 trap that gave MLK fits. The strategy forced seven turnovers and allowed Maplewood to take a 12 point halftime lead.
“Early on in the game they were out rebounding us,” said Panther Head Coach Ty Wilson. “They were getting two or three rebounds. We decided to match up going big for big to see if we could get some of those rebounds. That got us a nice cushion going into the half.”
MLK came out in the second half as strong as they did in the first. They forced four straight turnovers and cut a 12 point lead down to six. Bo Hodges (15 points and 11 rebounds) made two straight shots to stretch the lead back out.
Alexander then started making hay first hitting a three pointer then dishing an assist to Malik Harris (eight points). He then started making shots again. He ended the game with 39 points off the bench. Harris was the key person defending Duke. Duke scored 24 points to lead his team but shot 7 of 19 from the field. He did go 10 of 12 from the free throw line.
“I saw they were giving me the jump shot so I took it,” said Alexander. “(Not starting) gives me a better mindset. Jalen has a good midrange game. We had to help to deny him his shot so we tried our best to do that. We have to just play together and keep doing the same things we have been doing.”
Wilson was very complimentary of the maturation of Alexander and how the rest of the team is fitting into their roles. Especially how they played Duke.
“Jalen Duke is an awesome player; to get him to shoot a low average is hard. Malik did an awesome job guarding him. Jalen was district player of the year last year. To have him guarding someone like that was good to see.
“Actually the last two games we have had him (Alexander) come off the bench. We try to put in his head that it’s not about who starts, it’s about who finishes.
“Having 39 tonight I think that’s the most points I’ve had a player score since I’ve been here. We’re proud of him. Bo gives us an all around type game. He is one of those guys that can score without the ball. He rebounds well for a guard, he defends well. Just like Will, we want to continue to push him to get better. At the end of the day I am happy with the effort from everyone tonight.”
Maplewood High (12-9, 7-4)
Mike Parker 3-7 1-2 9, Will Alexander 16-28 5-5 39, Bo Hodges 4-11 7-10 15, Deshawn Johnson 1-1 0-0 2, Malik Harris 2-6 4-6 8, Tyreke Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Reggie Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Alex McKissack 0-0 0-0 0, Immanuel Newsom 1-1 0-0 2, Hassan Littlepage 4-7 0-0 8. Totals 31-61 17-23 83
Martin Luther King (7-14, 3-6)
Jonathon Stewart 1-2 0-0 2, Nora Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Donavan Henry 10-15 2-2 23, Tavares Horley 1-4 0-0 2, A.J. Bowers 5-11 1-3 12, Jonathan Vincent 0-0 0-0 0, Greg Hancock 0-1 0-0 0, Damien Wynn 0-0 0-0 0, Darius Hunte 1-3 0-0 2, Desmond Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Cy Claudion 0-0 0-0 0, Jalen Duke 7-19 10-12 24, Nicholas Vincent 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 25-57 14-19 66
| SCORE BY PERIODS | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | TOTAL |
| Maplewood High | 18 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 83 |
| Martin Luther King | 20 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 66 |
FG%: Maplewood High .508, Martin Luther King .439. 3-pt FG:Maplewood High 4-14 (Parker 2-5, Alexander 2-7, Littlepage 0-2), Martin Luther King 2-11 (Stewart 0-1, Taylor 0-1, Henry 1-4, Powers 1-3, Duke 0-2). Rebounds: Maplewood High 39 (Hodges 11), Martin Luther King 29 (Duke 8). Fouls Maplewood High 17, Martin Luther King 22. Fouled out: Hodges Horley . Technical: Newsom, Maplewood High Bench. Assists: Maplewood High 18 (Parker 7), Martin Luther King 16 (Stewart 4, Duke 4). Steals: Maplewood High 9 (Alexander 3), Martin Luther King 4 (Stewart 1, Henry 1, Powers 1, Duke 1). Blocked shots: Maplewood High 3 (Hodges 2), Martin Luther King 3 (Duke 2). Turnovers: Maplewood High 13, Martin Luther King 16. Attendance: 1256.
Tennessee Tech Head Football Coach Watson Brown and staff were in attendance.