On a night when he was honored as one of the nation’s top high school basketball players, Tennessee Temple senior Jeremy Sexton showed why.
After officially receiving his nomination to the 2009 McDonald’s All-American team, Sexton scored 27 points at home Friday to help the Crusaders edge Arts & Sciences, 58-52.
“It means a lot to me,” said Sexton, one of 1,500 players now competing for 24 All-America roster spots. “I’ve been working hard my whole life, and to get some national recognition is really big for me.”
Sexton made two big 3-point goals early in Friday’s game, but the Patriots proved they’re not the same team that lost by 21 in December to the now-fifth-ranked Crusaders.
The first quarter ended tied at 16, and Temple (21-2) needed two Sexton free throws in the final minute of the first half to prevent CSAS from taking a lead into the locker room. Aaron Cousin scored six straight points in the third quarter as the Patriots built a 44-36 advantage, but three 3s helped the Crusaders reclaim the lead for good.
Jarrod Johnson, Ben Montgomery and Sexton hit from outside during an 11-2 Temple run, and after Terrell Townsend scored to get CSAS within 52-50 with 5:02 left to play, the Patriots were held scoreless from the floor.
“They had the momentum, but when we hit those big 3s, it slowed them down and switched the momentum back to our side,” Sexton said. “We stepped up our defense big time in the last few minutes, and we hit our free throws and helped push our lead out.”
Cousin and Townsend scored 18 and 17 points for CSAS (12-5), while Alex Stallion added 11. Johnson totaled 15 points for Temple, and Montgomery scored 11.
“We found a way to win,” Crusaders coach Caleb Marcum said. “I thought tonight we played off emotion and not with our heads, and in big games you can’t play that way. But we’re getting better. Next time it won’t be this close.”
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