by Alex Schwartz

It is now, in the fifth contest of the day that the games really start to heat up with the best of the best players and teams from across America. Right now, Mountain State Academy (WV) is taking on St. Benedict's (NJ). Mountain State is led by West Virginia-signee Deniz Kilicli '09, Nebraska-bound Vander Joaquim '09, West Virginia-pledge Noah Cottrill '10, Kofi Mensa '10, Shaq Thomas '10, and Naji Whitehead '12. St. Benedict's, which is in a state of disarray, features a deep and talented lineup that includes Pitt-bound Lamar Patterson '09, Rice-signee Tamir "Pop" Jackson '09, Texas-commit Myck Kabongo '11. We are almost five minutes into the game, so I'll get you all caught up.

4:50pm- With three minutes to go in the first quarter, Mountain State Academy is up 8-4 after a trey from Noah Cottrill '10. St. Benedict's went with a differnt-than-usual starting lineup of Tavon Sledge '11, Aaron Brown '10, Mike Poole '10, Tamir "Pop" Jackson '09, and Gilvydas Biruta '10. The only two regular starters amongst that group are Brown and Jackson.

4:53pm- With 2:21 left in the first quarter, St. Ben's is still behind 8-4.

4:55pm- A putback slam from Shaq Thomas '10 has made it 10-6. Thomas started the year at Paterson Catholic (NJ) and transferred to Montclair (NJ), but left for Mountain State when he was ruled ineligible by the NJSIAA due to transfer rules.

4:56pm- Through one quarter of play, Mountain State Academy is up 12-8.

5:01pm- With 6:30 to go in the half, St. Ben's is behind 12-10 after a couple free throws from Tamir Jackson.

5:02pm- A trey from Can Korkmaz '10 has made it 15-10 Falcons.

5:05pm- With the clock showing 4:40, the game is even at 15.

5:06pm- Korkmaz has the last six points for Mountain State after just draining another three. His squad is up 18-15.

5:09pm- Micah Pfalzgraff '09 hit one of two from the line, and then St. Ben's scored five straight to take a 20-19 lead, but a bucket from Shaq Thomas put the Falcons back up by a point.

5:11pm- Jackson scored three points the old-fashioned way to give the Gray Bees a 23-21 lead with about 90 seconds left in the half.

5:13pm- Mike Poole couldn't convert a free throw given the chance for a three-point play, but his bucket did put St. Benedict's up by four, 25-21.

5:14pm- Lamar Patterson '09 grabbed the ball after a blocked shot and scored. A shot behind halfcourt nearly fell for Cottrill, but was a bit strong. The Gray Bees of St. Benedict's are up 27-21 at the half, ending the quarter on an 8-0 run.

5:23pm- Gilvydas Biruta came out for the second half in a wheelchair with what looked to be one of his ankles taped up. If I get any more info I'll be sure to post it.

5:25pm- After missing a shot at one end, Kilicli blocked a shot at the other, but Aaron Brown grabbed the ball and scored, putting the first points of the second half on the board. After Cottrill turned the ball over, Brown nailed a trey, giving him five points in 57 seconds this half, and making it 32-21.

5:26pm- A Mountain State three from Jabs Newby '10 and a pair of free throws by Cottrill have cut the Gray Bees' lead down to a half dozen.

5:28pm- Mike Poole scored for St. Ben's and Vander Joaquim '09—he has been all but silent thus far—missed two from the line at the other end, so it's 34-26.

5:29pm- Kilicli fed Cottrill for a deuce, as the future WVU Mountaineers teamed to cut the deficit back down to six.

5:30pm- Buckets by Patterson and Brown have made it 38-28 St. Benedict's and led to a timeout by the Falcons with 4:49 to go in the third quarter.

5:31pm- Noah Cottrill hit a three soon after coming out of the timeout to make it a seven-point game, 38-31.

5:32pm- Tavon Sledge scored at one end for the Gray Bees and Brian Lowther '09 hit the first of two from the line at the other, making it 40-32.

5:34pm- Aaron Brown is in the zone. The junior just hit a three and the next time down the floor he dumped it off in transition giving a teammate and easy layup.

5:36pm- A Mountain State three has cut the Gray Bees' lead to 11, 48-37.

5:38pm- Another monster jam by Shaq Thomas answered a St. Ben's bucket, making it 50-39.

5:39pm- An old-fashioned three-points from Poole were the final points of the quarter, so the Gray Bees have a commanding 53-39 lead through 24 minutes of action.

5:44pm- A pair of free throws by Myck Kabongo '11 has made this a 16-point game, with St. Ben's leading 55-39 and the clock reading 6:49.

5:46pm- Two free throws by Jackson made it 57-39, and after an exchange of buckets it's now 59-41 with about six minutes left in regulation.

5:47pm- After a monster one-handed slam from Kilicli to make it 59-43, St. Ben's took a timeout with 5:52 left.

5:49pm- Aaron Brown scored once again for the Gray Bees, but Newby responded at the other end to make it 61-45.

5:50pm- Joaquim just had a monster block on Kabongo, blocking the ball out of bounds on the baseline. Lamar Patterson converted the inbounds pass into a thee-point play to put St. Benedict's up 64-45.

5:51pm- Lowther scored a second-chance basket for the Falcons, and Sledge then scored for the Gray Bees after both teams had empty trips.

5:53pm- A mid-range J by Cottril has made it 66-49 with 3:33 to go.

5:55pm- Kilicli tipped in a miss to make it a 15-point game, but Poole scored at the other end to give the Gray Bees a 68-51 lead.

5:57pm- Jabs Newby scored to make it 68-53.

5:58pm- Jackson hit the first of two at the line, but Aaron Brown grabbed the miss and scored to make it 71-53. Cottrill then scored at the other end.

6:00pm- With under 40 seconds left it's 71-57.

6:02pm- After cutting the lead to 12, Mountain State Academy lost 75-61, and a fight that was quickly broken up happened right after the buzzer sounded between Steven Frankoski '09 of St. Ben's and Justin Drummond of Mountain State that cleared the benches. The teams did still go through and shake hands.

6:04pm- Noah Cottrill won MVP for Mountain State Academy, while Lamar Patterson picked up the trophy for St. Benedict's.

6:29pm- After the game I spoke to Noah Cottrill and Deniz Kilicli.