“Someone told me everybody but Jamell (Smith) had scored,” Patterson Sr. “So, I made it a point to try and help him score.”
And with 1:32 left in the game, Smith’s putback off a rebound made the scorekeeper move his pencil in the score column.
Patterson Sr. said it was the first time in his coaching career that all 14 players scored points in a game. A total of 30 bench points helped the Red Devils enjoy a 69-43 rout of Purnell Swett, giving Patterson Sr.’s squad its fifth straight win that included a Robeson County Shootout title in December.
Enough of the qualms about Red Springs being a two-player highlight reel. The Red Devils are deeper than Glenn Patterson Jr. and Larry Brown Jr. and proved it against James Williams’ Rams.
Whether it was Sherwood Ferguson’s contributions at shooting guard or Jeremy McDowell’s outburst from the perimeter, Red Springs’ role players worked as a cohesive unit, burying any attempt of a Purnell Swett comeback in the second quarter.
Ferguson’s steal-and-layup at the two-minute mark made the score 33-8. McDowell’s jumper from long distance two possessions later widened the margin to 38-10.
Patterson Jr., who became a scorer-turned-distributor for Tuesday’s game, admitted he’s not used to a single-digit scoring tally, but says he can’t remember a win that felt as good as Tuesday night’s. Patterson scored a season-low six points and attempted just seven shots.
“It feels so much better than having a 25-point game,” Patterson Jr. said. “When everybody scores, it makes our team that much better. When I have to score all of our points, it puts the focus on one player. We’re unstoppable when everyone scores.”
At times, the Red Devils’ bench rotation outplayed the Rams’ starting five, harassing Purnell Swett’s backcourt into numerous mistakes and ill-advised passes en route to victory. To repeat an over-used phrase, it was a total team effort for Patterson Sr.’s bunch.
Tuesday’s convincing win gives the Red Devils four victories in six tries this season over 4A opponents.
”We definitely feel like we have one of the best basketball teams in the county,” Patterson Sr. said. “If our bench plays at the same level as the starters, that’s great for us. Being able to rest the first line of guys will be important down the stretch.”
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