
In local high school hoops, there is always a lot on the line when Calvin Coolidge meets Theodore Roosevelt in their annual get-together on the hardwood. While the matchup signifies the opening league play in the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA), the Coolidge-Roosevelt rivalry means more: neighborhood bragging rights for the schools that are separated by less than two miles. Each year, each school features some of the top players in the DMV and this year’s matchup was no different. Again, it lived up to the hype and this time it was the Colts of Coolidge who came away with bragging rights, 66-60 on Jan. 3 at the Milkhouse on the campus of Theodore Roosevelt in Northwest, Washington.Early in the game, there was nervousness displayed by both teams, as they missed easy open shots and took turns turning the ball over.
After going back and forth, Roosevelt (10-5 overall, 3-2 in the DCIAA) used a late spurt to settle in and take a 20-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Calvin Coolidge senior guard Quintin Cooper drives to the basket during the Jan. 3 game against Theodore Roosevelt. While the game was hosted at Roosevelt, Coolidge defeated the home team 66-60. (Jonae Guest/ The Washington Informer)Initially, the Colts (9-4, 4-0 in the DCIAA) squandered an opportunity to take the lead or gain control as they missed 9 of the first 11 free throws in the first 16 minutes of play. The Roosevelt Rough Riders, who rely on senior guard Ka’mari Pointer, were able to maintain a 31-25 lead at the end of two quarters of play. Much of their scoring came from sophomore guard Gabriel Hudgens, who tallied 12 of his team’s first-half points to lead all scorers.Meanwhile, Coolidge played without its All-Met guard Quintin Cooper, who appeared to be rushing his shots, missing several at point-blank range. Thus, coach Derrick “Dirky” Washington strategically sat his senior guard, a Hampton University commit.“He sometimes gets a little distracted out there and lets it affect his game,” explained Washington, a Coolidge alum and head coach since 2018. “So, I decided to sit him for a while and let him think about things. I felt confident that some of our younger players could produce as they have during the early season.”
One of the players that Washington is alluding to is Andre Tchuefa, a 6-foot-5 freshman, who came off the bench to spark a 23-13 run in the third quarter to help the Colts take a 48-44 lead. The 15-year-old, who also plays on the football team, was especially effective, drawing fouls and grabbing rebounds on the offensive glass to create second-chance opportunities.“How you saw him today is how he practices and plays all the time,” noted Washington. “He gave us a big boost today that can only help us down the road.”Coolidge head coach Derrick Washington calls a play from the sidelines. (Jonae Guest/The Washington Informer)The fourth quarter featured five lead changes in the last five minutes. Rough Rider sophomore guard Hudgens established himself as a player of the future. The 5-foot-11 guard tallied 10 of his team’s points to keep it close. He finished with a game and career-high 26 points.With Tchuefa holding it down, Coolidge was able to turn the game over to Cooper, Eric Turner and sophomore guard Makiah Turner, who combined for all their team’s 18 points in the fourth quarter.“We did a great job of closing it out,” said Washington. “These games are always battles that come down to the wire. This one was no different. But it’s just one game.”
Hudgens led all scorers with 26, Pointer scored 10 and De’Marean Frazier chipped in with eight. Coolidge’s balanced scoring was led by Gray with 19, Cooper with 18, Turner with 11, and Tchuefa with 11 points and 12 rebounds.Looking Ahead in the DCIAAIn the past four years, Jackson-Reed has been the top dog in the DCIAA, but things are changing and the DCIAA is experiencing a revival. The Colts, a onetime power in the league, is now back in the mix. Cardozo, which has already edged Roosevelt this season, is also now a factor after winning 20 games for the first time in three decades last year. Plus Roosevelt — always a strong factor in its history under Rob Nickens, who has won over 400 games — will be in the mix come playoff time in February.Nickens recently dished on his ethos for coaching the Rough Riders on “The Game Related Show.”
“I tell my kids, it doesn’t matter what’s going on at Roosevelt, every time you step on this floor, you need to give 1000%, not 100%, but 1000%,” Nickens explained. “Even when you’re tired, even when you’re burnt out, effort is everything.” The next big showdown is on Jan. 15 when Coolidge hosts Cardozo. The playoffs begin on Feb. 15.
Source: Washington Informer