Chapelgate repeats as champions of the MIAA C

Chapelgate Christian senior Nate Frierson, son of Yellow Jacket head coach Frick Frierson, celebrated his birthday on Wednesday night with an outstanding all-around effort, leading Chapelgate to an impressive 64-45 win over Beth Tfiloh in the MIAA C Conference basketball championship game at Gilman.  It was CCA’s second straight league title and fourth overall.

Frierson, a veteran point guard, ran the Yellow Jacket attack with precision, getting his teammates involved early and then netting 14 second half points to finish with a team-high 17.

Beth Tfiloh, a scrappy squad which battled its way to the C Conference title game for a second consecutive year, played tough defense in the opening quarter and trailed by just one point after limiting the Yellow Jackets to just seven points in the opening frame.  Chapelgate, however, outscored the Warriors 15-6 in the second period and coasted to the 19 point win.

“It was a real good team win, everybody working together,” said Nate Frierson.  “At the beginning, Chika (Obi), especially on the inside, was scoring. The second half, that opened everything up on the outside, and we started to hit some threes.”

Senior Winfield Taylor also had a big offensive night, as he powered in 16 points and collected 12 rebounds.  Chapelgate also received 10 points each from Chisom Uzosike and Chika Obi, while senior Matt Phillips added seven points.

The balanced scoring sheet is by design according to the team’s head coach.

“One of our goals is to have five guys in double figures.  It’s probably happened four times this year.  Obviously, if we can’t get five, we try to get four. It will vary who it is. We just try to spread it out,” said Frick Frierson.  “[We’re] a very unselfish team and they take what the defensive gives.  It usually makes everybody happy.  Everybody gets a chance to get the ball and put it in the basket.”

Chapelgate trailed 8-7 early in the second quarter, but reeled off 10 straight points to take a 17-8 lead and close the half with a 22-12 advantage  Taylor and Obi combined for 17 points in the opening half.  The Yellow Jackets then scored the first seven points of the third quarter to take full control.

Beth Tfiloh closed the third quarter with an 8-4 spurt, but never got closer than 11 points in the second half, as the Yellow Jackets closed strong on the free throw line.  CCA was 23-of-28 from the charity stripe for the game, and 13-of-16 in the final quarter.

Nate Frierson explained his team’s goal as it attempts to the execute its offense.

“[The key is] making every possesion a masterpiece and every possession great, so you don’t have any wasted possesions.  On defense we get stops and then on offense getting a good shot.”

Josh Flax and Natan Wessman each scored 13 points to lead Beth Tfiloh, which fell to 14-9 with the loss.

Chapelgate improved to 23-5 on the season and completed league play 14-0, combining the regular season and playoffs.  The Yellowjackets still have some basketball to play, including an appearance in the Maryland Christian Schools Tournament.