Jessie Jackson and Kansas assistant coach Jerrance Howard stopped by Curie to see Cliff Alexander and the 6-9 Kansas-bound center did not disappoint.
Alexander fished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks in leading Curie to a 75-52 victory over Dunbar Tuesday in the Red Central.
Dunbar coach Donyea Jones appealed to his team’s sense of pride after losing to Curie by 52 in the first meeting earlier in the season at home. The Mightymen did play with more intensity but that still was no match for Alexander and company.
The Condors led 17-11 at the end of the first quarter but quickly doubled up the visitors early in the second quarter thanks to a 10-0 run which was started with a three pointer from Devin Gage and back to back dunks by Alexander.
The first dunk was off a missed shot and the second came off a defensive rebound by Alexander as he went coast to coast and put his elbow in the rim.
Curie held a commanding 48-22 lead after the first half.
Curie coach Mike Oliver gave his starters about five minutes of work in the second half then turned it over to the reserves.
Oliver said it was a special moment for the school and the team to have Jackson in attendance.
“Its just a privilege when a person of his status takes the time to come out just to see your team play the kids and the fans were both very excited,” said Oliver.
Jackson said he was impressed by Alexander.
“He is a shot blocker like the old school center. Runs the floor like a deer and plays both ends of the floor,” he said.
Oliver said the team is playing good basketball.
“It’s sinking in and everybody is buying in to what we need to do in order to achieve our goals,” he said.
Jones said that despite the lost he is pleased with his team’s effort.
“Cliff put them in another league, but that does not mean you stop playing,” said Jones. “In the first game we did and today we did not.”
Khalid Beal led all scorers with 19 points for the Mightymen.
