Mount Vernon falls short in wild game against Lake Braddock

Mount Vernon junior Jonathan Hollingsworth takes a shot in the first half against Lake Braddock.

The first time Mount Vernon and Lake Braddock met this season, the Bruins’ run-and-gun style overwhelmed the Majors in a blowout loss in Burke. 

Friday night’s rematch at Mount Vernon featured the same high-octane Bruins, but this time the Majors were ready. In the end though, a series of Majors turnovers and clutch shooting by Lake Braddock cost Mount Vernon a double-digit lead and then the game, as the Bruins came out on top 96-92.

“We had our mental lapses,” said Mount Vernon coach Lou Golden. “You can not take a break off against [Lake Braddock]. There was a couple stretches where we got lax and they just continued to keep up the pressure [and get] second and third shot opportunities. You can’t allow that.”

The loss — and a cut above his eye late in the fourth quarter — spoiled a spectacular 37-point performance by senior guard Alpha Kamara, who exploded out of the gate with 15 first quarter points. Kamara would give the Bruins fits all evening, draining shots all over the floor en route to his season high in scoring.

After trailing by 1o points at the end of the first quarter and as much as 16 points in the second quarter, Lake Braddock’s wide-open style allowed them to work back into the game. The Bruins regained the lead briefly in the third quarter before Mount Vernon grabbed it back in the final minute of the period, setting the stage for a frenzied final eight minutes. 

As the game swung back and forth in the fourth quarter, Kamara was forced out of the game with 1:54 remaining due to a bloody cut above his left eye. Lake Braddock converted a three-point play on the ensuing possession to go up 89-85, and it appeared that Mount Vernon might be done without their star.

But the Majors stormed back behind a basket by junior point guard Josiah Jimboy, who then forced a turnover on the next Bruin possession. Junior forward Jonathan Hollingsworth hit a 3-pointer on the next trip down the court, putting Mount Vernon back on top 90-89. 

Lake Braddock quickly answered though. Senior guard Corey Pelham, who finished with a team-high 32 points, knocked down a three pointer to quiet the crowd and give the Bruins the lead for good.

Kamara, with a bandage above his eye, managed to return to the gym with 27 seconds left and the Majors trailing 94-90. He quickly hit a layup to make it a two-point game, but Lake Braddock sealed the win with two free throws with 7.5 seconds left.

Junior forward Elisha Amoako finished with 20 points for the Majors, while Jimboy had 12 and Hollingsworth had 10. 

Mount Vernon (7-10) now plays four consecutive road games to finish out the regular season, starting with West Springfield on Tuesday.

Golden said his squad, which had won three out of the four previous games before tonight, is playing at a much higher level than in the first half of their Patriot District schedule. As the final stretch of the regular season approaches, Golden said his group has the ability and attitude to fight for a finish in the top half of the district. 

“At the end of the day, the boys still have confidence,” Golden said. “Even with this loss, we feel like we can still hang around [the 4th-6th place] area And I think the second time around the confidence is a lot higher facing these teams. We know what to expect.”