Bay Barnstorm: Rice brothers pace Walton
Duo combines for 52 points in first-round win over Marianna
Pat McCann, News Herald Executive Sports Editor
Dec 27, 2007 12:22 pm
PANAMA CITY - The sons of former NBA player Glen Rice naturally get a lot of attention when Walton High School of Marietta, Ga., takes the floor.
But it took more than a pedigree for the Raiders to survive a senior-laden squad from Marianna in the first round of the Bay Barnstorm Classic.
Glen Rice Jr. had 35 points and G’mitri Rice 17 on Wednesday, but it was a suddenly staunch defense and some help from a surprising source that led to a 77-70 overtime victory.
Marianna (10-2) appeared to have victory in hand when inbounding the ball with a two-point lead and 14.8 seconds remaining in regulation.
Glen Rice Jr. stole the pass, however, and got it to Scott Newton, a 50-percent free-throw shooter who was fouled with 0:11 left. Newton made both ends of the bonus to tie the game
61-61, the Bulldogs were unable to get off a shot on their final possession, and the Rices combined for 12 of the Raiders’ 16 points in overtime.
Walton (7-3) advanced to meet Ware County (Manor, Ga.) in an all-Georgia quarterfinal today at 5 p.m. Marianna meets Battle Ground Academy at 12:30 p.m.
“We didn’t call that, a lot of times he’s able to get his hands on the ball because he has such long arms,” Walton coach Joe Goydish said of Glen Rice Jr.’s key forced turnover. “Then we had a 50-percent free-throw shooter make the shots.”
Goydish called it a “tough first-round matchup” against a team with nine seniors, and said the Raiders had a difficult time guarding Marianna four-year starter Brandon Gibson. The Bulldogs led 52-42 entering the fourth quarter after Walton missed 14 consecutive 3-point attempts starting in the second quarter.
Gibson and T.J. Spencer each had 15 points for Marianna, Spencer with 11 in the second quarter when the Bulldogs recovered from an early 11-point deficit to
lead 35-32 at intermission.
Derrian Bell added 12 points and Tyler Wilson 11 for Marianna, whose previous defeat this season came against East Gadsden County. Newton added 10 points for the Raiders.
The younger Rice doesn’t have the shooting range of his brother, an 11th-grader, but the sophomore guard added a strong floor game. He blocked five shots and altered a number of other attempts.
“He’s 6-foot-2, but with his wing span plays like a 7-footer,” Goydish said.
WALTON (77)
Fondon 1 0-0 2, Tinier 2 0-0 4, Gm.Rice 6 4-5 17, Putkonen 2 2-2 8, Storey 0 1-2 1, Gl.Rice 14 5-8 35, Newton 4 2-2 10. Totals: 29 14-19 77.
MARIANNA (70)
Jones 4 1-2 9, Bell 5 0-0 12, Wilson 4 0-0 11, Sutton 1 0-0 3, Gibson 5 5-7 15, Horne 0 1-2 1, Spencer 7 0-2 15, Blount 2 0-0 4. Totals: 28 8-13 70.
Walton 18 14 10 19 17 — 77
Marianna 16 19 17 9 9 — 70
3-point goals: Walton 5 (Gl.Rice 2, Putkonen 2, Gm.Rice), Marianna 7 (Wilson 3, Bell 2, Sutton, Spencer). Total fouls: Walton 13, Marianna 15.
Fouled out: Marianna (Blount).
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