Oh boy: Wakefield boys brace for USA TODAY power Montrose
By Chris Burke
Last year, Highland failed as David trying to down Goliath. This weekend, it will be Wakefield's turn.And the Owls might want to bring some bigger rocks.
The Wakefield boys basketball team will host mighty Montrose Christian - the Washington Post's top-rated squad and No. 7 in the USA TODAY preseason rankings - at 7 p.m. on Saturday as part of the third annual Life and Breath Showcase.
Montrose smoked Highland, 76-25 in the 2006 event, so Wakefield knows what it is up against.
"I think we're excited because it's an opportunity," Wakefield coach Scott Barron said. "We talk about testing ourselves - we know we're not at the same level as Montrose."
Without taking anything away from Wakefield, that may be an understatement. Two members of the Montrose team that pummeled Highland are now playing at Maryland: Adrian Bowie and Shane Walker. Another Terp, Greivis Vasquez, is also a former Montrose player. Current juniors Isaiah Armwood and Tristan Spurlock are being courted by schools like Georgetown, Virginia, North Carolina and others.
Coach Stu Vetter has called this one of his most talented teams.
"Last year we had the opportunity to watch them play twice last year and our guys really enjoyed (that)," Barron said. "It was kind of a speed and intensity we haven't seen before."
Wakefield Athletic Director Paul Sipes reported that the Owls have spent plenty of time scouting their high-powered opponent. "They know everything about them," Sipes said. "They've been on Rivals.com, trying to figure out the matchups."
The Wakefield-Montrose battle is just one of 24 scheduled for the Life and Breath slate. Things kick off at 3 p.m. Friday and continue until late Saturday night in Wakefield's upper and lower gyms.
Highland's boys and girls teams will also attend, along with the Wakefield girls.
The entire weekend benefits the Life and Breath Foundation, which is working to fight the disease Sarcoidoisis. The cause of that disease is currently unknown and there is no cure. It involves a series of lumps (called "granulomas") that form on various locations throughout the body, such as the lungs, liver and heart. At its worst, the disease can shut down vital organs.
Sipes said that last year's tournament raised $1,500, and 90 percent of this year's gate profits will be donated. "We expect, over the weekend, we'll have about 3,000 people in total," Sipes said.
He added that the Highland boys' games with Miller and St. Paul's could draw sellouts, and that Montrose's two games (the Mustangs play Word of Life Academy on Friday) will pack Wakefield's upper gymnasium.
Originally, the weekend festivities were also to include American High School of Mexico - Sipes used to attend there, and invited the girls team up. Unfortunately, after Mexicana Airlines offered AHS free tickets, the company then discontinued its flights to Baltimore's BWI airport.
"We'll get them up here next year," Sipes said. Tandem Friends girls team will fill the vacated slot.
Regardless of the teams in attendance, for the host Owls, the docket leads up to Saturday night's showdown with Montrose.
But with 23 games taking place in a span of about 30 hours, that will hardly be the only excitement.
"If you like basketball," Barron said, "this is the place to be."