Giles tops Maker at Holiday Invitational

Harry Giles and his High Point Wesleyan teammates are too young to appreciate “The J. Geils Band,” but H. Giles and his basketball band rocked the Holiday Invitational Tuesday.

The Trojans held off an inspired squad from Orangeville Prep of Canada to survive with a 78-75 victory to win the John Wall Bracket title before an overflow crowd at Broughton High’s 2,400-seat Holliday Gymnasium.

The game slowed down to a free throw contest in the fourth quarter, but Orangeville had a chance to send the game into overtime as Jamal Murray’s 3-point field goal went down and spun out of the rim.

Wesleyan could have put the game away with a comfortable margin, but the Trojans struggled at the free throw line. They hit only 19 of 32 in the second half.

USA Today has Giles as the No. 2-ranked player in the nation. The 6-foot-8 junior and Orangeville Prep’s 7-foot-1 Thon Maker both have No. 1 rankings among recruiting services for the Class of 2016, although Maker may reclassify as a senior.

The matchup between the two was basically a stalemate with both players posting double-doubles until Giles hit key baskets and pulled down big rebounds in crowds during the second half. Maker fouled out with 2 minutes, 30 seconds to play on an offensive move.

Giles was named the tournament MVP. He finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Maker totaled 24 points with 11 rebounds.

Wesleyan’s Kwe’Shaun Parker added 20 points, Michael Buckland 12 and Brandon Childress and Jalen Johnson 10 each.

Wesleyan trailed 58-48 with 2:15 left in the third quarter until the Trojans finished the period on a 7-0 run. Brandon Childress hit a 3-pointer and then Giles hit a layup and then a dunk at the buzzer on a lofted pass from Childress.

Orangeville Prep had the talent to take a lead but not the polish to hold it. Wesleyan overcame a 22-8 lead late in the first quarter to get back in the game. The Trojans trimmed the deficit to 32-27 but ended up trailing at halftime 46-33.

BIG CROWDS

Overflow crowds continually filled the gym throughout the four-day tournament. Tournament director Bill Sewell noted in past years the gym has cleared out after an elite player such as John Wall played, but this year fans stayed other games and to see other highly recruited players.

An hour before the doors opened at 4 p.m. for the first of three evening session championship contests, two long lines snaked out from the lobby doors down the sidewalks and into the parking lots.

Maker, whose family escaped the Civil War in Sudan for Australia before he arrived in Canada, took pictures of the long ticket lines.

This story was originally published December 30, 2014 at 11:34 PM with the headline "Giles tops Maker at Holiday Invitational."