Ready-for-prime-time player
Junior guard Henderson’s 3rd quarter surge leads Brother Rice over Providence
Ahmad Henderson did everything he could to score during the early stages of Friday night’s game, but his shots just weren’t connecting.
The junior point guard came up empty on several drives to the basket, leading Brother Rice coach Bobby Frasor to believe he was forcing too much.
At halftime, Frasor gave Henderson a simple message that changed everything.
“Coach told me to let the game come to me,” Henderson said. “Shots aren’t going to fall or they’re going to fall. I just know I have to keep attacking.”
Come the second half, the game finally arrived for Henderson.
He scored eight of his 10 points in the third quarter, making numerous key plays to guide his team to a 66-43 victory over Providence in a Catholic League crossover.
“I told him we have other pieces and his spots are going to be there to score,”
Frasor said of Henderson. “He found those today, especially in transition. He’s so dynamic with the ball in his hands.”
“He knows he’s a scorer. He’s ready for the ball and ready for the big stage.”
Brother Rice (15-2, 6-0) struggled to generate much offensively before Henderson’s outburst in the third.
Despite leading for most of the game, the Crusaders entered halftime clinging to just a nine-point lead over Providence (4-13, 1-5).
Entering the third, Frasor decided it was time to get his point guard going.
“First play of the second half, we called a little action for him to get him downhill,” Frasor said. “That got him to the basket and settled him in a little bit.”
The 5-foot-9 Henderson hit a driving layup, which appeared to open the entire floor for him. The lanes he found himself stuck in during the first quarter suddenly became easier to navigate.
He kept cutting to the basket, hitting shot after shot. Before the Celtics had a chance to catch their breath, the deficit had ballooned to 22 points.
Henderson’s relentless driving also opened up plenty of looks for Nick Niego.
The junior guard led all scorers with 21 points, hitting seven 3-pointers. Any time Providence tried to slow down Henderson, Niego was ready and waiting to receive a kick-out pass.
“It’s awesome to play with him,” Niego said of Henderson. “He gets by his defender so fast. It creates so much for me, and he gets it right in my shot pocket. He’s a great passer.”
The Celtics continued to battle, but could not counter once Brother Rice’s offense started humming. Jack Wajda scored a team-high 15 points, while Owen Moran added nine.
“I thought we played really hard,” Providence coach Kyle Murphy said. “We made some mistakes and had a couple bad turnovers that led to run-outs on the other end. It got away in a hurry.
“They’re tough. They seek the heck out of the ball and they’re hard to guard with Henderson.”
The Celtics aren’t the only ones noticing that. Fresh off a breakout sophomore year, Henderson entered this season already attracting Division I interest.
It certainly has created additional pressure for Henderson, as does his new role as being one of the team’s leaders in the locker room.
“It’s been a little bit tougher,” Henderson said. “Last year I was a sophomore surrounded by a bunch of seniors. This year, I’ve got to take more of a leadership role.
“It’s been a fun ride so far and it’s only getting better.”
If Friday was any proof, that ride will have far more ups than downs for Henderson as long as he continues letting the game come to him.