Tuesday night, Phenom Hoops traveled to Southern Pines as Pinecrest hosted Millbrook in a 4A NCHSAA non-conference matchup. Both teams were coming off losses last Friday night, so they were ready to get back in the winner’s column.
The first quarter started with both teams going back and forth. Millbrook’s CeeJay Jordan and Pinecrest’s Colby Wallace asserted themselves early in the ball game. Millbrook led 12-9 at the end of the first.
Pinecrest answered in the second quarter behind the play of 2023 JD Scarbrough. The lefty knocked down a three-pointer, got to the foul line, hit a floater, and was making plays and finding his teammates for open baskets. Millbrook’s CeeJay Jordan had a near double-double in the first half with 9 points and 8 rebounds. Freshman Colt Langdon also added 9 points for Millbrook. But Pinecrest’s balanced attack helped them win the second quarter by 8 points and go into halftime with a 31-26 lead.
As the third quarter started, Pinecrest went on a huge run. They extended their lead to 17 points at 49-32 with 4:07 remaining in the third quarter. During this run, senior Thomas Mandell knocked down two three-pointers, JD Scarbrough was creating off the bounce and finding teammates like Colby Wallace at the basket for layups, and point guard Christian Freeman was getting into the paint and making plays.
But the game wasn’t over yet. Millbrook came out of this timeout and began to chip away at the Pinecrest lead. They picked up their full court pressure. This led to Pinecrest turnovers, and Millbrook was able to convert on the other end. Colt Langdon and CeeJay Jordan got to the basket and finished at the rim. Also, Gabriel Cerda was finding teammates for baskets, and he had a nice left to right cross for they layup with 30 seconds remaining in the quarter. Millbrook cut the deficit to 8 points at the end of the third quarter as Pinecrest led 56-48.
As the fourth quarter started, Millbrook cut the deficit to 56-52, but Pinecrest’s Colby Wallace answered with back-to-back baskets of his own. Millbrook continued to pressure the ball and fight their way back into the game. With 3:40 remaining, Pinecrest was holding on to a 61-60 lead.
Just when you thought Millbrook was going to take the lead and pull off the comeback, Pinecrest would answer. What really stood out was their togetherness as a team. When adversity hit, they stuck together and were able to withstand the Millbrook run. Pinecrest held on and finished with a 74-67 victory.
Final Score
Pinecrest 74
Millbrook 67
Pinecrest Stats
Colby Wallace – 22 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Thomas Mandell – 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
JJ Goins – 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Christian Freeman – 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
JD Scarbrough – 7 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
Aidan Lyons – 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Nehemiah Thomas – 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Jullien Cole – 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Millbrook Stats
Colt Langdon – 21 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks
CeeJay Jordan – 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Jarius Copeny – 12 points, 1 rebound
Gabriel Cerda – 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Jaylen Donaldson – 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists
Bailey Daniels – 2 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
Jaylan Bowen – 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Player Standouts
6’4 2023 Colby Wallace (Pinecrest)
Wallace set the tone on both ends of the court for Pinecrest with his tough, physical presence on the interior. He finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. For someone who led the game in scoring, he did so within the framework of the offense. He finished strong through contact at the rim. In addition to scoring in the post, he was able to drive it from the perimeter and attack the basket. He also knocked down the midrange catch and shoot when he had space.
6’1 2022 Thomas Mandell (Pinecrest)
Mandell was big during the third quarter run to extend the lead. During that stretch, he knocked down two of his three three-pointers on the night. He is shooting the ball extremely well from the perimeter this season, and it is easy to see why. He has a nice release and can get it off quickly and with range. As a senior, he provided valuable leadership and helped keep the team’s composure during Millbrook’s comeback attempts.
6’5 2022 CeeJay Jordan (Millbrook)
Jordan was an absolute beast on the glass, finishing with a double-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. He utilized his strength and athleticism to set the tone early on for this Millbrook team and continued his solid play throughout the game. He excelled getting downhill and finishing strong at the basket through contact. He embraced contact and also got to the foul line.
6’8 2025 Colt Langdon (Millbrook)
The freshman finished with a team-high 21 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. It’s easy to see why Langdon is considered one of the top players in his class in North Carolina. He has a nice mix of size and skill at that age, and he showcased his skillset in a variety of ways. The lefty knocked down the catch and shoot three, he got to the midrange for the pull-up, he finished around the basket, and on the defensive end, he did a great job of walling up to block and alter shots.