Blaise Mbargorba unveiled his secret weapon last night

[ponyscott]

From the New Jersey area about Blaise and his shooting exploits:

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/art ... asketball/

Trenton Times, December 10, 2011 10:22 p.m


Championship: Peddie vs. Game 8 winner, 2 p.m.

By Anthony Coleman

STAFF WRITER

HIGHTSTOWN – Blaise Mbargorba unveiled his secret weapon last night.

The senior forward on the Peddie School boys’ basketball team helped the Falcons reach the semifinals with his inside game Friday night. Against Lawrenceville last night, the legit 7-footer from Cameroon, Africa, let it fly from the perimeter. He nailed five 3-pointers in directing Peddie to a 60-50 victory in the 39th annual Peddie School Invitational Tournament.

“That’s why I’ve been working on my shot,” said Mbargorba who finished with 19 points, six rebounds and five blocks. “If there’s a situation like that where they think, ‘He’s not going to shoot the ball. He’s tall. He’s big and strong. He’s too big to take that shot.’ I have that weapon, and that’s what I used today.”

For the fourth time in seven years, Peddie advanced to the final. It will face the winner of last night’s late game between Hun and defending champion Wilbraham & Monson (Mass.) at 2 p.m., today.

“Blaise is our best shooter,” head coach Joe Rulewich said. “It’s hard for me to swallow sometimes, but he’s our best shooter. He’s worked hard at it. For him to hit some of those shots, it’s not surprising.”

The Big Red trailed by 15 after three quarters and scored the first six points of the fourth to get the deficit under 10. However, Mbargorba, who is committed to Southern Methodist University, nailed a key 3. Peddie, winner of three straight, did enough to hold off Lawrenceville.

“Collectively as a team, everyone played their role,” said junior guard Jonah Brooks, who added 12 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists. “The guys who came in off the bench really stepped up and made shots. All five guys that were on the court played with poise.”

With it being Peddie-Lawrenceville, it was going to be an intense affair. Throw in the student sections from each school going back and forth with chants of “You can’t stop him” and “You can’t do that” (after a violation) and a trip to the tournament final on the line, the contest was physical and emotions ran high.

A Lawrenceville player was hit with a technical foul (four in all) after a play and a tussle developed in the backcourt, forcing the trailing official to blow the whistle and kill Peddie’s fastbreak in order to issue a warning to two players. In the end, Peddie claimed a 30-19 lead after two quarters.

“It means a lot (to reach the final),” Mbargorba said. “We’ve worked so hard.”

Contact Anthony Coleman at [email protected].

LAWRENCEVILLE (50) – Eric Speidel 0-0-0-0, Lewis Hayes 2-3-0-13, Kevin Myricks 1-0-0-2, Chris Hudnut 5-0-3-13, Michael Klotz 0-1-4-7, Randall West 0-0-0-0, Roy Brooks 1-0-0-2, Charles Card-Childers 1-0-0-2, Salim Gloyd 5-0-1-11. Totals: 15-4-8-50.

PEDDIE (60) – Drew DeAngelis 0-0-1-1, Zack Vigneault 3-1-6-15, Jimmy Lindberg 0-0-0-0, Jonah Brooks 5-0-2-12, Chris Glazer 0-1-0-3, Xavier Harris 4-0-2-10, Austin Cabot 0-0-0-0, Timi Opeke 0-0-0-0, Blaise Mbargorba 1-5-2-19. Totals: 13-7-13-60.

[hoopmanx]

Gotta like that skill, to go w/that size. This is a good class. Hopefully they add a 4th this spring

[RE Tycoon]

Sounds like a Dirk.

[LHS81]

If Blaise has great ball handling skills, he can be SMU's 7'0 point guard