Colonials Corner

Jeremy Chappell (in gray) works on offense during his Pittsburgh Summer League basketball game July 7th. Photo: Andrew Chiappazzi/Colonials Corner.

Round Five of the Pittsburgh Summer Basketball League sponsored by the Pittsburgh Basketball Club is in the books. Just one more week of round-robin play remains for the playoffs begin and the champion is crowned.

Colonials Corner took in all three games at the GreenTree Sportsplex on Wednesday night, and with a few Pitt Panthers shelved, the players opened up the throttle and upped the intensity – and the acrobatics – from the opening week. All three games, but especially the middle one between UPMC and SPK, had a variety of players playing well above the rim.

All three games featured your Robert Morris Colonials, with the middle game serving as the highlight for a packed gym. Game one featured LAIR against Jeremy Chappell and Khalif Foster’s PGT team and went down to the wire. Game two featured Mezie Nwigwe and Lijah Thompson taking UPMC against Rob Robinson and SPK. Game three had Dallas Green and Russell Johnson’s CRONS squad trying to hold off a Pitt-heavy PBC squad.

For more, read on.

GAME 1 – LAIR 69, PGT 63

One of the interesting developments that occurs within these games is observing the size disparity each time a given team takes the court. While many of the league’s participants show up to every game, some inevitably miss a night due to other commitments. Others are local kids playing at distant colleges – Lance Jeter, now at Nebraska, will be leaving within the next week – and will be heading off to take summer classes or move back on campus. There’s also the experience factor; some of the big men are used to the more physical summer league, while others are not only getting used to the PBC way of play, but also college life in general. The opening game Wednesday night showcased the difference.

With shots unable to fall, Jeremy Chappell and Khalif Foster’s PGT squad could have used some inside help. Josiah Whitehead didn’t make it to the game, and the two remaining post players for PGT, Pitt newcomers Dwight Miller and JJ Richardson,  had off nights. Richardson went about 3 of 11 from the floor, while Miller was solid but unspectacular. Neither of them had the overall controlling approach to the game that the slightly smaller Nasir Robinson had for LAIR. Robinson showcased an ability to dive in for rebounds, as well as take the ball to the hole. He and Brad Wanamaker had strong nights, pushing LAIR to a 36-18 halftime lead. Part of the help came courtesy of their big(ger) men, as Dante Taylor was extremely effective in keeping Miller and Richardson away from the basket. Taylor pitched in 19 points, was active on the board, and he had help from IUP’s Akida McClain.

PGT came back in the second half and started nipping at the heels of LAIR, but it wasn’t enough. Foster had a quiet four points, while normal summer league stalwart Chappell couldn’t find a shot early and finished with just one three-pointer and 13 points. With Aaron Jackson playing in the NBA Summer League, many thought Chappell would be the next logical step to be MVP this year, but the RMU graduate will have to pick it up in the final two weeks and in the playoffs to stake his claim to the prize.

GAME 2 – UPMC 75, SPK 66

Rob Robinson works his way down the court for SPK in a Pittsburgh Summer League game on July 7th. Photo credit: Andrew Chiappazzi / Colonials Corner

Someone needs to start filming these games, simply for the YouTube compilations of impressive dunks that inevitably occurs. One player will throw it down, and then everyone else tries to top it, all within the flow of the game. Duquesne’s Damian Saunders got it started, but Rob Robinson, Lijah Thompson, Gilbert Brown, and others finished it.

While his now former teammate could be watching the MVP trophy slip away, Rob Robinson is beginning to put his bid in for the rights to it. The 6’8 senior looks fresh playing in the wide open summer league, and he dropped in a thunderous 20 points for a double-double. Robinson scored six straight points for SPK late in the first half. Down 23-22 with under six minutes left, Robinson cut inside and soared above the rim to grab a one-point lead. A quick miss had SPK sprinting back down again, and a two-handed jam by Robinson. Rob Rob wasn’t done, though, as SPK worked the ball around the horn and then down to an open Robinson, who evaded the defenders with a nice reverse jam.

Lijah Thompson in action at the Pittsburgh Summer League for UPMC on July 7th. Photo credit: Andrew Chiappazzi/Colonials Corner.

Unfortunately for Robinson, he and his teammates had problems handling the ball and hitting outside shots. Saunders had a gym-rattling slam but miss fired on perimeter plays, and Bill Clark couldn’t connect as often as his team needed him. That opened the door for Lijah Thompson, who showcased a few of his own impressive finishes, including a thunderous tomahawk slam to five UPMC a 58-53 lead midway through the second half. Thompson finished with 10 points and appears to be far more comfortable playing the body down low than some of the other big men in the summer league.

We’ll chalk up some of the ball-handling mistakes and over-zealous passes by both squads to the high-flying nature of the game. Thompson and Robinson, as well as others, tried to do too much above the rim and missed some chances. Mezie Nwigwe and the rest of the guards tried to force opportunities down low, misfiring on passes and lobs. Nwigwe had 10 points, though, and played at a high speed the entire game. With Gil Brown leading the night in scoring, with 21, Nwigwe and Thompson’s duplicate set of 10s were enough to push UPMC to victory.

Bateko Francisco and Velton Jones did not play for SPK.

GAME 3 – PBC 83, CRONS 61

The guys playing for CRONS have to feel a bit unlucky. They struggle to field a consistent lineup, they lack a high profile scorer, and they’re often left without much of a bench. An early nail-biter turned into a laugher as PBC rode a stronger starting lineup and deeper bench. If the MVP isn’t going to be Chappell, Robinson, Gil Brown, or Brad Wanamaker, it’s going to be Gary McGhee. He has controlled play down low, showcased a variety of shots, hit his free throws, and generally looked like a very competent basketball player. Panthers fans are naturally skeptical to see how it translates to Big East play, but it’s safe to say they’re a bit more optimistic now that McGhee has had such a strong summer. McGhee had fewer points tonight – 17 – but also gave way to Jakim Donaldson and Antonio DiMaria more as well. Plus, CRONS didn’t have much in the way of physicality. Dallas Green was the tallest player on the floor for CRONS at 6’8, but he was stuck out on the perimeter most of the evening.

In fact, Green and teammate Russell Johnson did not have the best night. Jonson had six points, and while he showcased his athleticism, he couldn’t hit a shot nor could his teammates haul in his passes. It was just a miserable night for CRONS, although Green did draw some eyebrow raising with his perimeter play, which included a couple three-point shots. He made one and finished with 8 points.

Melquan Bolding and Eric Evans, from Duquesne, seemed to be the focal points for CRONS Wednesday evening, but with Tony Lee not in attendance and practically zero bench help, CRONS just doesn’t have much in the way of firepower.

Colonials Corner will not be in attendance during the final rounds of play next week, but we do plan on being there – potentially with better photographs – during the finale the following week if the schedule holds out.