Published: December 15, 2007 12:06 am         

Patterson flies by Falcons to 80-68 win

Rob Fulford admitted he didn’t know what to expect from his team’s game with the Patterson School Friday at Van Meter Gymnasium.

After all, Patterson, out of Lenoir, N.C., are a post-graduate school and 90 percent of its roster has already graduated from high school. Plus, the school had earned a reputation after beating prestigious Oak Hill Academy in a scrimmage game earlier this year.

“Honestly, I was just hoping to keep it close,” Fulford said.

After falling behind by as many as 16 in the second half, the Falcons battled back, cutting the score to three, 62-59, before running out of gas in an 80-68 loss.

“This game was a measuring stick for us, a chance to see exactly where we’re at,” Fulford said. “And I think I found out that we are pretty good. If we can cut out the turnovers and the mental mistakes, we can compete with anybody.”

Sophomore Kofi Mensa finished with a game-high 27 to lead the Academy.

Patterson coach Momir Gajic was impressed with Mountain State Academy.

“I have a great deal of respect for Rob Fulford as a coach and a person,” Gajic said. “I think he is on the verge of doing great things here.”

His belief is such that Gajic, also the director of operations for Pro Futuro Sports, sent three players — Milos Jerotijevic, Filip Melinovic and Lazar Milinkovic — to the Academy.

He nearly saw the Academy storm back from a huge deficit in the fourth quarter.

Down nine, Fulford went to a full-court press that resulted in a steal and layin for Jabs Newby, a steal and powerful slam by Mensa and a stop followed by a finger roll for two by Melinovic.

After a timeout, the Bulldogs regained their composure and begin easily breaking the press to push the lead back to nine. Point guard Chris Kupetz’s had 12 of his team-high 20 in the fourth, including 6-of-6 at the free throw line to close out the game.

Patterson enjoyed a sizable advantage on the boards.

The Bulldogs featured a front line of three players 6-foot-8 or better.

“And they all have 40-plus vertical leaps,” Fulford said. “We were outmanned. That was basically a college team. We knew we were in for a challenge and that’s what it was. But I thought our kids battled hard. If we make our free throws we’re in this game.”

“Our plan was to use our size advantage and control the tempo,” Gajic said. “We knew they were fast and they could shoot, so we wanted to control the pace. Our point guard (Kupetz) is starting to understand how to control the team.”

Michael Holloway had 13 for the Bulldogs followed by Mathiang Muo with 11 and Victor Ojeleye with 10.

Newby added 16 for the Falcons and Melinovic had 10.

MSU Academy returns to action when it plays Day Springs, Va. Thursday in Roanoke. The Falcons’ next home game is Jan. 4 against Mountain Mission (Va.).

— E-mail: demorrison@register-herald.com



Patterson School

Nemanija Mikic 2 3-4 7, Mathiang Muo 4 2-2 11, Chris Kupetz 6 6-6 20, Michael Holloway 6 0-2 13, Victor Ojeleye 5 0-1 10, Gaby Cuevas 2 1-1 5, Jared Schroder 2 0-0 6, Alex Moorman 2 2-2 6. Totals: 29 14-20 80.

MSU Academy (12-2)

Milos Jerotijevic 1 2-2 5, Jabs Newby 6 2-2 16, Victor Ojunni 2 2-2 6, Kofi Mensa 8 7-14 27, Jonathan Coleman 2 0-4 4, Filip Melinovic 3 4-4 10, Todd Cornett 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 17-28 68.

PS 20 21 16 23 — 80

MA 16 15 14 23 — 68

Three-point goals: PS: 6 (Muo, Kupetz 2, Holloway, Schroeder 2); MS: 7 )Jerotijevic, Newby 2, Mensa 4); Fouled out: None.