Our guess is Imani is a different team than the one that was expected to play in this year’s MAIT.  They only have one player taller than 6’5 and suffered a severely lopsided loss to the host Eagles in the opening round.  The Rock gave Orlando Oak Ridge a more competitive game last night.  Hopefully, this game will be somewhat competitive.

The Rock got off to a great start with back-to-back three pointers from 6’9 senior and Virginia Tech signee R.J. Jones.  Imani Christian got on the board with a floater from 5’10 junior Nate Brazil.  Jones scored inside for the Rock but that was countered with a bucket from 6’3 junior Tristen Brown.  After an exchange of baskets, Jones hit another three to put The Rock up 13-6 with 5:08 to play in the period.  At that point, The Rock ran dry and Imani took advantage.  The Saints finished out the first period with a 5-0 run to trail by just two, 13-11.

The second quarter was all The Rock.  The Lions had separate runs of 5-0 to start the period and 13-2 at the end of the quarter to roll into the half up 37-17.  Jones continued to play well, this time scoring inside and totaling 20 points in the half.  Evan Sterck, a 6’2 junior, came alive with back-to-back threes for The Rock during its end of quarter run.

Things went from bad to worse for Imani in the third quarter.  The Rock hit 8 three-point shots in the period, four of those by 6’5 sophomore Joseph Hartman, to take a commanding 68-35 lead into the final period.

As you might expect, the fourth quarter was anti-climactic.  The highlight was a dunk and one by Jones.  Imani made a run late in the period after The Rock subbed in their bench.  That made the score a “more respectable” 77-52 win for the Lions.

Jones led The Rock with 27 points, going 10-14 overall and 3-6 from deep.  Hartman added 19 points, including 5-7 from beyond the arc.  Sterck added 17 points, hitting 4-7 from three-point land.

For Imani, Brazil led the way with 23 points.