New Hope vs Riverdale Baptist: What Did We Learn In Week 3? (Gwynn Park Fall League)

<p style="text-align: center"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080;font-size: 18pt"><strong>New Hope Academy vs Riverdale Baptist School - What Did We Learn?</strong></span></span></p>     <span style="font-size: 12pt"> I can not remember a time when a fall league game has ever been sold out or even considered a marquee match up.  Well I guess as they say there's always a first time for everything.  Riverdale Baptist vs New Hope thus far has been the most anticipated game of the season and it's only September.  A lot of plots and subplots in this game that many of the local sports fans are aware of.  As far as the game.... it did indeed live up to the hype.  New Hope coming in after finishing last season red hot being ranked #1 in the final poll last season, Riverdale has bolstered their team with some new additions and have a very deep bench.  </span> <span style="font-size: 12pt">     After sitting through watching Bishop Ireton blast Gwynn Park 51-7 the crowd was a little restless waiting for this game to start.  The game started out slow with each team struggling to put the first point on the board.  <strong>Synia Johnson</strong> was able to open the game up with a bucket to get things rolling three minutes into the game.  Tied at 11 midway through the first half.  New Hope was able to take a 19-15 lead into the break behind backdoor dive baskets by <strong>Deja Bristol</strong> and <strong>Maria Gakdeng</strong>.  RBS came back strong in the second half taking a 5 point lead with eight minutes to play.  With seven minutes to play the NHA had regained the lead at 28-27 and the lead sea sawed from there.  With 2:30 to play the Crusaders broke the game over with a three pointer by Johnson and back to back baskets from <strong>Kayla Thomas</strong> and <strong>Jalyn Brown</strong> taking their biggest lead 37-27.  With under a minute left to play Sam Caldwell conceded the game trailing by 5 and the Crusaders stalling leaving the final score at 37-32 Riverdale Baptist winning.</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000"><strong>5 Things that we learned from the game</strong></span></span> 1. Riverdale Baptist adding 2021 <strong>Kayla Thomas</strong> will pay dividends.  She only had 4 points in the game but her rebounding and presence inside was big and was the one weak spot the Crusaders needed to fill. [caption id="attachment_95973" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kayla Thomas[/caption] 2. New Hope Academy's transfer 2022 <strong>Kennedy Fauntleroy</strong> will add an offensive spark for the Tigers.  Fauntleroy came off the bench and was the games leading scorer with 9 points.  She filled in very nicely for the injured Jada Walker and Caldwell will have the luxury of not having to play Walker massive minutes as he has a worthy player to carry the load when she needs rest. [caption id="attachment_95971" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kennedy Fauntleroy[/caption] 3. <strong>Jalyn Brown</strong> is one of the top players in the 2022 class.  She has had an excellent showing thus far in the fall league and she stepped up today against top competition.  She had several key blocks, rejecting open layups and three pointers while defending multiple positions.  She was the teams second leading scorer with 6 points of the bench. [caption id="attachment_95970" align="alignnone" width="300"] Jalyn Brown[/caption] 4.  2020 <strong>Deja Bristol</strong> and 2021 <strong>Maria Gakdeng</strong> are a force together in the paint.  The New Hope duel work well together feeding each other high to low or on the cut.  The combined for 12 points and both are relentless on the boards grabbing close to double digit rebounds each. [caption id="attachment_95972" align="alignnone" width="300"] Maria Gakdeng[/caption] 5.  2020 <strong>Synia Johnson</strong> is a baller.  The Crusaders were without Johnson last weekend as she was on an official visit but, you can see how smoothly the offense runs when she is in the game.  She made big play after big play throughout the game to keep things close, she then knocked down the big three pointer in the closing minutes to seal the victory. [caption id="attachment_95969" align="alignnone" width="300"] Synia Johnson[/caption]