By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Seven games into the 2017-18 season, and the World of Inquiry (WOI) boys’ basketball team has already eclipsed their win total from a year ago.
At 6-1 including a 3-0 mark in RCAC Division B play, the Griffins are off to their best start in third-year coach Steve’s Campe’s tenure.
Led by seniors Charles Maurice Brown and CeyQuan Salmon, WOI has won six straight and sits alone in first place in Division B.
“They’re my horses for sure,” Campe said after Thursday’s victory over Rochester Academy Charter School (RACS). “They’re a tough one-two combination.”
Salmon, a slender guard who poured in a career-high 47 points in WOI’s win over School of the Arts on Tuesday, combines a deft shooting touch with the ability to put the ball to floor and finish at the rim in traffic.
End 3rd: CeyQuan Salmon gets the hurt and harm. World of Inquiry 64 RACS 35 pic.twitter.com/5kF3IS3OI3
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 21, 2017
At 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, Brown is an imposing figure. Obviously, he is at his best around the basket, but the forward possesses a deadly midrange jumper.
This thunder-and-lightning combination, if you will, scored 43 points in WOI’s 78-59 win.
With the defense extending on him, Salmon connected just once from long range in the win. Choosing to do his work inside the arc, the 6-foot-4 guard finished with six two-point field goals – scoring early from the free throw line area before moving to the baseline in the third quarter where he scored seven points as the Griffins took a 29-point advantage at 64-35 into the final frame.
“That’s what makes him effective,” Campe noted. “He just has that natural instinct to find soft spots in the defense, and he’s been granted a gift that most of us don’t have: He puts the ball in the bucket.”
Given his imposing figure, it’s easy to imagine Brown shedding defenders as he bulls way to the basket. His jumper from 12 to 15 feet, though, keeps defenses honest.
“His basketball IQ is very high, but he’s a four-year varsity starter,” Campe said of Brown. “He’s developed that over time.
“He’s got a nice touch. He knocks down a couple shots or if he gets a couple baskets inside it opens up the opposite. If he’s getting buckets inside, he’s got that little midrange. If he’s getting buckets outside, he gives a pump fake or a hesitation and get to the bucket.”
Charles Maurice Brown starts the fourth with a turnaround jumper in the lane. WOI 68 RACS 41 pic.twitter.com/BaN9bxIaxC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 21, 2017
Brown scored 22 and Salmon 21 in Thursday’s 78-59 victory.
Last February, WOI’s season ended with a 65-63 loss to eventual finalist Gananda in the opening round of Class C1 sectional play. The narrow defeat was a fitting end to a campaign in which they finished 4-17.
“We were in some big games; we just couldn’t close it out,” Campe said referring to a four-point loss to McQuaid earlier in the year and a setback to NE Douglass where the Griffins led by 15 at half. “We were competitive. We just could not close out a game.”
WOI avenged last year’s loss to NE Douglass with 74-73 victory last Friday. The Griffins also also beat Monroe (4-3) 67-59.
“Kids are maturing a little bit, stepping up and we’re winning the games that we were losing in year’s past,” Campe said.
Salmon has scored 1,311 career points. He is averaging 23.2 points per game this season.
Other scorers: RACS – Albert Tomlin (11), Shawn Cole (8), Spencer Burns (10), Trevon Stringer (20), Tumashye Mccullough (3), Jason Smith (2), Daniel Garcia (2) and Marje James (2). WOI – Tremier Dollar (6), Frankie Santiago (7), Javonte Burrell (14), Bobby Searight (4), Kyle Beasley (6) and Jahmir Douglass (2).
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