By Jordan Fairchild
Elm Staff Writer
On Wednesday, Feb. 16, the Washington College men’s basketball team hosted Centennial Conference opponent Johns Hopkins University. The Blue Jays came away with a 77–61 victory over the Shoremen.
The Shoremen led 6–4 over the Blue Jays with 15:47 left in the first half, but this was the last lead they held for the remainder of the matchup.
The Blue Jays scored eight consecutive points to further their lead, but sophomore Kedrick Frink cut the Shoremen’s deficit to 12–9 with a three-pointer.
At halftime, the Blue Jays led 39–28.
The first four points of the second half were scored by the Shoremen, which brought the score to 39–32.
The Shoremen were unable to break the Blue Jays’ lead and the final score was 77–61, a loss for the Shoremen.
Sophomore Sam Corrao had a team-high 15 points scored and tacked on six rebounds. He was also named Goose Nation TV Shoreman Player of the Game.
Frink added 11 points and six rebounds. Senior Tray Wright had a game-high of six assists and came up with two steals. Senior Dilyn Becker also had two steals during the competition.
On Saturday, Feb. 19, the Shoremen versed Muhlenberg College on their Senior Day and final game of the season. The Shoremen reigned victorious over the Mules, 83–81.
Wright and Becker were honored before the game for their careers and contributions to the basketball program at the College.
“Playing at WC has taught me a lot,” Wright said. “It has taught me how to lead and the different ways to gravitate towards people of various upbringings. It has also taught me a lot about the consistent work it takes to excel at anything.”
Wright opened the game with a three-point shot on the first possession, but the Mules went on to score 12 straight points.
The Shoremen responded with a 15–2 scoring run, which brought the score to 18–14 with 11:39 left in the half. This was the largest lead the Shoremen would have for the rest of the game.
The Shoremen trailed behind the Mules 43–36 at halftime.
The Shoremen took a 48–47 lead after scoring 12 of the first 16 points in the second half.
The Mules recaptured the lead with less than five minutes remaining on the clock, but the Shoremen answered with an eight-point run, closed out with a three-pointer from Corrao to bring the score to 77–75, Shoremen.
With 33 seconds remaining in the game, the score was tied at 81–81.
In the last six seconds of the competition, Corrao was fouled on a three-point shot and made all of his three free throws, which put the final score at 83–81 for the Shoremen.
On the last shot attempt of the game for the Mules, Wright blocked the shot and Frink came up with the rebound, securing a victory for the Shoremen.
“I’m very proud of our resilience this year,” sophomore James Ziegler said. “We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs but we’ve never folded.”
Several Shoremen were able to score double-digits during the game. Corrao had a career-high and game-best 27 points, Becker scored 15 points, and sophomore Jason Zielinski scored 17 points.
Wright recorded 14 points and a career-high and game-best 10 assists. This was his second double-double of the season and the third in his career.
According to the WC Athletics website, Wright was also the first Shoreman since 2018 to tally 10 assists in a game. Wright also notched a game-best nine rebounds.
The Shoremen closed out the season with a 5–20 overall record and 2–16 in Centennial Conference play.
“I’m most proud of how our team battled and responded throughout the entire season,” junior Nick Romeo said. “Our team is so young and to be able to go through such a tough season physically and mentally and still come to practice and work hard every day showed a lot of character and showed great signs going into next year.”
Photos by Grace Hazlehurst