Hey again, it's J. Mike Blake, Sports Editor of The Cary News and Southwest Wake News.
On Saturday, I gave you live updates from three GlaxoSmithKline games, and tonight I'm doing just one — Apex vs Word of God. Both teams won their opening round games as Apex surprised Greenfield thanks to Weston Murphy and his 29 points and Word of God rolled past Southern Wayne.
This should be an interesting match-up, one with a 9 p.m. tip-off time. I'll keep you posted on all the action right around then.
- Sorry for the delay, they actually started ahead of time! And I hadn't even gotten situated with the internet here.
- After the first, it's 19-13 Word of God leads. C.J. Leslie caught an alley off the backboard and slammed all over poor Conner Belici.
- With 5:55 left in the second, it's 23-17 Word of God. Apex is hanging tough because they're forcing WOG to shoot 3-pointers and have made a lot of trips to the free throw line.
- Apex is forcing it to Murphy every time. 25-19 WOG with 5:15 to go in the first half.
- Bishop Daniels, a player I really like, threw down a double-clutch reverse jam in the open court. This team is nasty.
- 4:25 to go, 27-21 WOG.
- I wonder if Sunil Ram thinks he owns Word of God.. they named their mascot (Holy Rams) after his family.
- K.B. Boru hits a falling 3-pointer at one end to cut it to 5, then Daniels responds with a 360-layup at the other end. Then Sunil Ram gets the crowd riled up on an impressive drive! The pace here is like an Indy Car race! It's 31-26 WOG with 2:29 left.
- Daniels drove past Fogg to slam it down, but Belicic responds with a 3.
- With 1:18 left, it's 35-33 WOG.
- Apex is hanging in there thanks to its defense. WOG has been ripped in back-to-back trips down the court.
- Belicic with a highlight! He drops Word of God's Jordan Carter on a behind-the-back dribble. Only problem is he was stuffed so bad by C.J. Leslie, I think Leslie more or less dribbled his shot. He must've been four feet in the air when he sent that one downward.
- At half, it's anyone's game. 38-33 WOG.
- Leading scorer for Apex at half: Weston Murphy with 14.
- Leading scorer for WOG at half: C.J. Leslie with 13.
- Leslie, when he turns it on, is unreal. He's got two dunks and it's 44-35 WOG.
- With 4:56 left in the third, it's 48-39 WOG. Apex has gotten sloppy here and WOG is near unstoppable in the open court.
- OHHHHHH!! (I feel like the And-1 mixtape MC guy "Big Mike). Dezmine Wells took the baseline and slammed on TWO Apex defenders. Unreal.
- Belicic hits two free throws and it's 50-42 with 4:10 left in the third.
- Apex isn't following their shots like they were in the first half and it's leading to WOG transition points.
- Fogg with the tip-in and ensuing fastbreak layup brings Apex up to 53-49 with 1:25 to go.
- It should be noted Apex wanted this match-up. They have made the best of it.
- Some seats are opening up here. This place hasn't been nearly as packed as it was last year. Guess it was only a John Wall thing after all.
- Evan Hawley's jumper just before the buzzer makes it 59-52 after third quarter.
- Took some time away from the computer, so let's get you caught up:
- Weston Murphy fouled out with 4 minutes left. It was a terrible call. Both guys going for a loose ball, Murphy had position with a WOG player pulling at the back -- and of course Murphy was whistled for the foul.
- There's 2:41 left and it's 71-63 WOG. Apex cut it to 4 right as Murphy got his fifth foul.
- Belicic gets a steal as a WOG player tried to save it and lays it in. 71-65 WOG with 1:50 left. Lot of folks headed for the exits but this one's not done.. bet Apex wishes they had Murphy still.
- Apex can't get a call. Hawley take a charge but gets whistled for the block.
- Ball don't lie! (as Rasheed Wallace says)Wells misses both freebies.
- Sunil "Holy" Ram hits a 3! 71-68 WOG with 1:05 left!
- HAHAHAHAHAHA - Leslie misses an open dunk, gets the rebound, gets fouled.
- He hits his first free throw (48.1 seconds left) and the second. 73-68.
- SUNIL HOLY RAM!! Hits another 3! Apex fouls on the other end and Leslie will shoot two with 24.9 left. 73-71 WOG.
- Leslie misses the first - 3 point game.
- Leslie blocks K.B. Boru's 3-pointer and it goes out of bounds with 9.2 left. WOG ball since an Apex player tried to save it. Timeout on the court.
- Leslie selfishly keeps the ball instead of passing it to a teammate to run out the clock. Gets fouled. Misses the first. 74-71 with 5.6 left.
- Leslie hits it. Feels like Casey struck out. 75-71 WOG wins. Apex put up quite a battle but couldn't quite take the lead.
- Murphy had 22 to lead Apex.
- Leslie had 31 to lead all scorers.
