The Queens Grant basketball team continued their winning ways with another victory at home against Christ the King with a 78-59 drubbing improving their record to 7-1 on the season.

The Stallions during the opening three minutes jumped out to a 13-2 advantage on an 8-0 run before their opponent could score their first basket.  Jah’Quez Sanders the team’s leading scorer kept penetrating the middle and baseline with aggressive drives to the basket and making his foul shots.  While senior forward Xavier Westbrook,  juniors LB Boyette and Jeremiah Murphy controlled the boards and chipped in shots around the basket to take a 25-12 lead.  Senior point guard Josh Suggs managed to spread the ball around and kept pushing the ball up court at a fast pace.

In the second period Christ the King started a come back when sophomore Andrew Stanley came off the bench to spark his team by hitting on all cylinders scoring 11 points to keep the Crusader’s in the game.  In fact the Crusader’s outscored the Stallions 18 to 16 in the second period.  However, the Stallions continued to lead at the half 41-30.

The third period became a defensive battle with the Crusader’s applying a full court press for most of the period.  It seemed to work as the Stallions were forced to snap the press and it slowed down their fast break running game.  The Crusader’s outscored the Stallions 12-11 in the period.  Ahmad McKnight, the 6’7″ senior made a significant contribution scoring 5 points in the period and being a factor under the boards for the Stallions.

In the final period, as usually happens the best player on the court decides to take over the game and stepped up.  Jah’Quez Sanders, the senior leader led the Stallions charge hitting on multiple baskets and kept driving to the basket forcing the Crusader’s to commit fouls and he would connect on free throws for three point plays.  Meanwhile, Xavier Westbrook who just plays steady every game dominated the boards for the Stallions as they outscored their opponent 26-17 in the period to extend their lead and walk away with a solid victory.

The game was not the most efficient or clean win as the Stallions did hit some rough patches during the contest.  However, a win is a win, “Good teams grind out wins on off nights,” said head coach Jay Forsythe.

Sanders lead all scorers with 31 points, Westbrook 13, LB Boyette 13, Murphy 8, McKnight 5, Suggs 4, Craig 4 for the Stallions.  While Jaylen Steele had 24 and Andrew Stanley 14 for the Crusader’s.