Builders fall 69-56 to Williamson Trade in Great Ships Classic

NEWPORT NEWS, VA. -- Davar Watson scored a game-high 28 points and hauled in 13 rebounds as visiting Williamson Trade School shot 53.7% from the floor for the game and knocked off Apprentice School 69-56 in the final game of the Great Ships Post-season Classic on Saturday.

In the opener, classic MVP Chris Pendleton scored 43 points and his brother Bryce Pendleton added 29 as Southern Virginia defeated Voorhees College 126-121 in double overtime.  The Knights won the classic by virtue of two wins over the weekend.

After a first half that ended 33-all, the Builders scored the first four points of the second stanza on a Jason Smith tip-in and a layup from Eric Ruffin for its largest lead of the second half at 37-33 with 18:37 left.  The Mechanics went on a 15-2 run over the next 5:26 to take a 48-39 lead on a layup from Nate Armstrong.

Williamson Trade pushed the lead to 57-47 on an Armstrong 3-pointer with 8:40 left but saw the Builders cut that to 57-54 on a Ruffin 3-pointer with 4:48 left.  Consecutive 3-pointers by Jose Soto and Donald Van Horn pushed the lead to 63-54 with 3:30 left and the Mechanics were never headed.

All-Classic member Antione Paige and Smith scored nine points each to lead the Builders, while Smith was the leading rebounder for Apprentice School (15-12) with six.  The Builders have now alternated wins and losses over their last 14 games, with this being the largest margin in the losses.

Next for the Builders will be a matchup with host Rhema Bible College on Thursday night at 9 pm EST in the opening round of the USCAA Division I National Championships in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

WILLIAMSON TRADE 69, APPRENTICE SCHOOL 56

WILLIAMSON TRADE (20-8): Soto 6-13 0-0 15, Armstrong 5-10 0-0 12, Cuffee 2-3 0-0 4, Watson 12-21 4-4 28, Marshall 1-3 0-0 2, Van Horn 2-3 0-0 6, Walls 1-1 0-0 2.  Totals 29-54 4-4 69.

APPRENTICE SCHOOL (15-13): Smith 4-7 1-2 9, Cherry 0-1 2-2 2, Ruffin 3-9 0-0 7, Thompson 2-7 1-2 5, Joe 1-5 2-2 4, Spratley 4-8 0-2 8, Paige 3-7 0-0 9, Scott 1-3 0-0 2, Davis 0-2 0-0 0, Archer 1-2 0-0 2, Arrington 0-2 0-0 0, Washington 3-5 0-0 6, Johnson 0-4 2-2 2.  Totals 22-62 8-12 56.

Halftime: 33-all.  3-point goals: Williamson Trade 7-12 (Soto 3-6, Armstrong 2-3, Watson 0-1, Van Horn 2-2); Apprentice 4-15 (Cherry 0-1, Ruffin 1-4, Thompson 0-2, Paige 3-6, Archer 0-1, Arrington 0-1).  Rebounds: Apprentice 36 (Smith 6), Williamson Trade 32 (Watson 13).  Total fouls: Williamson Trade 13, Apprentice 12.  Assists: Williamson Trade 20 (Soto 8); Apprentice 12 (Cherry 4).  Att.: 218.

ALL-CLASSIC TEAM

Corey Mikel (Voorhees), Antione Paige (Apprentice), Davar Watson (Williamson Trade), Bryce Pendleton (Southern Va.), MVP: Chris Pendleton (Southern Va.).