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2010-2011
NACA National Finalists

SIAA All-State 1st Team
Alain Chigha, So.
Christian Benzon, So.
Mitchell Wilbekin, Fr.

NACA All-Tourney Team
Alain Chigha, So.
Glenn Feidanga, So.
Christian Benzon, So.
Ante Mioc, Sr.

2009-2010
Sweet Sixteen
District Championship
Kreul Classic Finalists

Justin Harden,
FACA North Central Florida
1A Coach of the Year

Dennis Mavin, Senior
FSWA 2nd-Team All-State
FACA North Central Florida
1A Player of the Year

Scottie Wilbekin, Senior
FSWA First-Team All-State
The Gainesville Sun's Small School Player of the Year

2008-2009
State Final Four
Regional Championship
District Championship

Svend Wilbekin,
North Central Florida
1A/2A Coach of the Year

Scottie Wilbekin, Soph.
1st Team All-State
1st Team, All District
Underclassman of the Year, Alachua County

Patrick Konan, Senior
2nd Team All-State
1st Team, All District
North Central Florida
1A/2A Player of the Year

Vlad Kondratyev, Senior
1st Team, All District

2007-2008
Independent Season -
Did not participate in state playoff system

Scottie Wilbekin, Fr
North Central Florida
1A/2A Player of the Year

2006-2007
State Runner-up
Regional Championship
District Championship

Svend Wilbekin,
North Central Florida
1A/2A Coach of the Year

Vytas Sulskis,
Florida Dairy Farmers
1A Player of the Year

2005-2006
Regional Runner-up
District Championship

Svend Wilbekin,
North Central Florida
1A/2A Coach of the Year

Moussa Camara,
North Central Florida
1A/2A Player of the Year

2001-2002
Sweet Sixteen
District Championship
2000-2001
District Championship

Svend Wilbekin,
North Central Florida
1A/2A Coach of the Year

1999-2000
District Runner-up

1998-1999
District Runner-up

LIONS BASKETBALL NEWS


The Rock Beats ACD for First Time in School History
February 10, 2012

The Rock defeated Arlington Country Day School 67-43 Thursday night in front of a raucous home crowd. The win marked the first time the Lions have been victorious over the Apaches since the two schools started playing in 1999.

After a banked in 3 pointer from the top of the key by ACD, the Lions outscored the Apaches 22-4 in the first quarter. The scoring on-slot was led by junior Alain Chigha who scored 8 1st quarter points. Chigha went on to finish with a game-high 17 pooints, including going 6/7 from the field with 3 3 pointers.

The Rock did not relent in the 2nd quarter, outscoring ACD 19-9 to take a 41-16 halftime lead. The first half was punctuated by a turnaround jumper by sophomore Mitchell Willbekin as time expired. Wilbekin finished with 11 points and 5 assists.

After a shaky start to begin the third quarter, marked by 3 consecutive turnovers by the Lions, they were able to right the ship and end the quarter up 56-29. Junior Christian Benzon was perfect from the field in the period making both of his shots, including 1 from downtown which saw the Lions players pass up numerous contested shots until Wilbekin was able to find Benzon alone at the top of the key for the trey. Benzon finished with 16 points and team-high 6 rebounds.

Despite being up by as many as 30 in the 3rd quarter, the Lions continued to play as though they expected the Apaches to make a run in the 4th quarter. ACD managed to outscore The Rock in the final period 12-11. It was far too little far too late as the Lions cruised to the convincing upset win over sourcehoops.com's #4 team in the state and once nationally ranked team ACD.

"I am just so proud of the way we came out and played tough tonight," said Coach Justin Harden. "I don't know that it was anything that I said before the game. I just think they were ready to beat these guys. We have been beat up and embarrassed by ACD for so long and we finally had a chance to take it to them."

"I thought Alain, Mitchell, Glenn and Christian played really well. But really, it was a team effort that allowed us to get the win. We were ready to beat them, I just never would have thought that it would be like this. I am a bit in shock actually."

Junior Glenn Feidanga scored 13 points to give the Lions 4 players with double digit points.

The Rock is now 20-8 and will play Impact Academy Saturday, February 11th for Senior Saturday. The Rock fell to Impact earlier in the season 64-55. Lone Senior Ousmane Ba will be honored before tip-off.

The Rock Falls on Shot with 0.9 Seconds Remaining
February 8, 2012

The Rock had been the only high school team to beat Faith Baptist Prep this season. The Lions won by 2 on January 10th, despite being up by as many as 19 points in the 2nd half. Faith Baptist hit a shot as the buzzer sounded to narrow the margin of victory from 5 to 2.

This time it was Faith Baptist who had the big lead and allowed the Lions back into the game. But like the last game, the Eagles hit a long jump shot at the end of regulation. Only this time it gave them the lead and eventually the win.

After a sluggish start, the Lions finished the first quarter only trailing by 4 points. And after a short jumper by senior Ousmane Ba went long to end the first half, the Lions trailed by 6 points.

The Rock came out of halftime playing harder and better. They were able to use that mixture to outscore Faith Baptist Prep 17-12 and trailed 45-44 at the end of 3 quarters. Ba helped propel the Lions with 3 offensive rebounds and putbacks in the quarter. He also added a free throw to give him 7 points in the quarter.

The Lions were the first ones to score in the 4th quarter on a tip-in by junior Alain Chigha and took their first lead of the game leading to an Eagles timeout. The Rock would lose Chigha for the rest of the game two plays later when an Eagles players landed on his shoulder after he dove for a lose ball. On the in-bounds pass, sophomore Pape Diatta nialed a 3 pointer to give the Lions a 4 point lead. The Eagles responded with a 3 pointer of their own. Junior Glenn Feidanga nailed a pull up jumper to increase the lead back to 3. Once again, the Eagles drained a 3 to even the score at 51-51.

Sophomore Mitchell Wilbekin drained an open 3 pointer to make it 54-51. But the Eagles ran out on the shot and were able to catch the Lions slow to get back in transition and allowed a lay-up on the other end. After a Wilbekin turnover at half court which led to an "and-1" finish at the other end and gave the Eagles a 2 point lead, the Lions would not lead again.

All 9 on the lions next points came from free throws, including 3 in row by junior Glenn Feidanga, who was fouled shooting a desperation 3 with 13 seconds left after collecting an offensive rebound.

With 13 seconds remaining, Kareem Canty walked the ball down the floor and drove hard to the top of the key, rose up, and knocked down a jumps shot contested by two Lions defenders. Canty also hit a long jump shot at the end of the 1st half.

"Despite the loss, I am very proud of my team," said Coach Justin Harden. "I told them I feel better about this loss than I have about many of our wins this year. I just felt like we played solid basketball which includes making free throws, limiting turnovers, and getting timely stops on defense."

"I decided to bring Pape off the bench because I wanted to light a fire under him to play better than he had been. I guess it worked. I thought he played like a high-major player tonight. I also loved what Austin brought. He played great defense on that last play and Canty just made a tremendous shot."

"This was Ousmane's best game so far. He made some really tough putbacks and defended (mike) Chandler pretty well. But we certainly missed Christian and DeVaughn tonight. Maybe its different with them, but maybe not. Either way I am proud."

Junior Christian Benzon was sidelined with a concussion he had suffered Monday in practice. Sophomore DeVaughn Jenkins was out with a sprained ankle.

Diatta led the Lions with 17 points and 5 assists off the bench. Feidanga added 13 and Wilbekin had 10 points. Ba finished with a career-high 10 points.

The Rock is now 19-8 and will host ACD on Thursday night at home at 730p.


2011-2012 Roster
Sr. Ousmane Ba
Jr. Freddy Bitondo
Jr. Alain Chigha
Jr. Glenn Feidanga
Jr. Christian Benzon
Jr. Arie Stewart
Jr. Cameron Etienne
So. DeVaughn Jenkins
So. Austin Harrell
So. Mitchell Wilbekin
So. Pape Diatta
8th Andrew Wilbekin
8th Justin Roberts
8th Bryan Donovan

2011-2012 Staff

Head Coach:
Justin Harden

Assistant Coaches:
Nigel Chong-You
Charles Dutton

Athletic Director:
Justin Harden

Principal:
Bob Carter

Final 2010 Rankings

FSWA State Poll: #1
(1A Classification)

Florida Hoops: #9
(All Classifications)

The Prep Zone: #3
(North Central Florida)

The Gainesville Sun: #1
(All Area Teams)
 

TheRockHoops.com - The Official Website of The Rock School Basketball Program
For more information about our program, please contact Justin Harden, Head Coach
jharden@trsonline.org | 352.331.7625