Anthony Gaskins (5) moves in for the bucket. Clayton visits Southeast Ralegh on Friday February 1, 2013, and walk away with a 62 to 53 victory. Photo by CHRIS BAIRD
Feb 2, 2013
An Anthony Gaskins pass down low led to a Gary Clark score.
Then, a Clark pass to an open Gaskins led to more easy points for Clayton.
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That was how things worked on Friday night as all eyes were on the electrifying Clayton Comet duo. With these performances, the Comets found enough scoring to down the Southeast Raleigh Bulldogs, 62-53.
Gaskins connected on open 3-pointers and penetrated to the rim for 25 points. Gary Clark utilized his size and power in the paint to score 21.
The first half of the game was tightly contested. Commanding Clayton defense forced the Bulldogs to settle for long jumpshots. Many of them were successful, and Southeast led for most of the half.
A three-point play by Gary Clark in the final seconds of the half tied things up, and the two teams headed to their locker rooms gridlocked at 24-24.
But Clayton put on a show in the second half. Gaskins found himself in foul trouble at the end of the second quarter, but Clayton coach Denny Medlin unleashed the monster coming out of the half. The benefits were huge for the Comets. After a big third quarter, Clayton led 43-33.
Southeast managed one last run in the final quarter, cutting the deficit to 5 points. This was the closest they came to a comeback. Clayton put the game away on the foul line in the final few minutes and coasted to the 62-53 final.
"You can't simulate their defense in practice," Medlin said after the game. "Southeast makes you play with a lot of energy. If you're going to beat them, it demands that you play at a high level of intensity."
Gaskins and Clark combined for 46 of Clayton's 62 points. Justin Morris scored 15 and Kwamaine Fairley had 10 for the Bulldogs in the loss.
Clayton remains #2 in the Greater Neuse Conference. On Wednesday the 6th they will square off against Garner, the leader of the Conference. Medlin is not getting distracted by the impending showdown. With a game against East Wake the night before Garner, Medlin stressed the importance of not looking over anybody in the conference. The Comets are focused on taking things one game a time.
"We can't worry about what Garner's doing. We have to get better," Medlin said.
Southeast Raleigh remains at the #3 spot in the conference. They play at Knightdale on Tuesday.
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