Parkdale Opens Season with Blow Out over Anacostia

The boys basketball team couldn't have asked for a better start to its season on the defensive end of the floor.

In their season opener on Tuesday, the Panthers pressured Anacostia into 32 turnovers, including 16 in the first quarter alone, as they jumped out to a huge early lead en route to a 56-26 victory over the Indians.

"It was definitely something that we needed," Parkdale coach Tremaine Price said of his team's quick start. "We haven't been that successful the last couple years with getting out to good starts, so it's good. It's good for the kids to have some type of success, and hopefully we can just build on it."

Parkdale (1-0) started the game on a 17-0 run, which was fueled by Anacostia's miscues. The Indians turned the ball over 11 times in the first four minutes, and didn't even get a shot off until Davon Goldsmith was fouled on a drive to the basket with 2:59 remaining in the quarter. Goldsmith made one of his two free throws, providing Anacostia with its only point of the first quarter.

"We noticed that once we started to press them up, they didn't know how to react to it," Parkdale junior guard Charles Cooley said. "So, they started fumbling the ball. We just noticed that we had to keep our composure. Every time we'd get hyped, we'd go back to the huddle and Coach Price would make sure we had discipline and made sure we'd go out there with the same mindset."

The Indians (1-2) turned the ball over 10 more times in the second quarter as Parkdale took a 37-7 lead at halftime.

"We don't have a point guard," AHS coach Frank Brisco said, "and I think this is the first time we've played away from home and they were nervous. Parkdale got their energy up, and they went at us and we didn't respond. In the second half we played a little bit better, but until we get our point guard situation resolved, we're going to have issues."

Anacostia also struggled from the foul line, shooting just 11-33.

Brian Bridgeforth scored 10 points to lead the Indians.

Cooley scored 18 points to pace Parkdale, which led by as many as 34 points. Adrien Straughn and Nicholas Jackson each added 12 points.

"I thought overall, our kids definitely did what we did in practice and what we've been working on," Price said. "We're just looking to attack and get out and run and play good, solid man-to-man defense, and I really thought we did that for most of the game. With the score being what it was, you could definitely tell there were some lapses that took place, but hopefully with these next two games, we can put a full game together."

The Panthers return to action on Thursday when they travel to Riverdale Baptist. They finish the week at Wise on Friday. Parkdale plans to concentrate on the defensive end throughout the rest of the week.

"Our main focus is defense," Cooley said. "Because, without defense, you can't win games. I know they say offense wins games, but in order to get past those games, we've got to have defense."

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