Shiloh cruises past Mount Pisgah in season opener

Maurice Dixon

@WriturRece | mobasketball27@gmail.com

LILBURN (GA) – Once Shiloh found its rhythm on both ends of the floor, Mount Pisgah Christian couldn’t find a way to interrupt the Generals’ flow.

In the Double Trouble Invitational at Berkmar High, Trevon Payton collected 21 points (16 in the first half) and nine rebounds and Isaiah Bertie added 16, eight boards and four blocks to help Shiloh build a double-digit lead in first half on the way to a 76-54 season-opening victory over the Patriots on November 13.

Even though the Generals assumed control of the contest before halftime, they did have to overcome an early deficit due to Mount Pisgah’s shooting from the arc. But once Shiloh started creating turnovers (13 steals overall) and scoring on second-chance opportunities, the Generals ended the first quarter ahead 24-13.

Then in the second period, Shiloh applied much more pressure on both ends, resulting in a 15-0 run that essentially put the contest out of reach for the Patriots.

Before the scoring surge, MJ Winter (11 points, four assists) turned a steal into a breakaway dunk for a three-point play but the Generals used that for momentum. First, Payton found Seryl Slater (12 points, four steals) for a 3-pointer, extending the margin to double digits for good, then DJ Leak converted a layup and made a steal which resulted in another basket in the lane. Next, Payton buried a 3 for a 37-20 score and timeout by Mount Pisgah.

Payton added two more layins to complete the run and contribute to a 42-22 score at the break.

Shiloh didn’t let up on either end in the third, recording more steals while scoring 14 straight points (Bertie also threw down a dunk over Winter and others during this surge.) to increase its lead to 31 points over last season’s private Class A champions.

Tyler Webber shot the ball well for the Patriots, netting four 3s on his way to a team-high 14 points and Udochi Osuji added 11, including a two-handed slam after a pass off the glass from Micah Tucker, who had some impressive finishes in the lane as well.