Weaver Hangs Tough at Elite National Basketball Showcase

SPRINGFIELD, MA — A highly-skilled big man standing nearly a half-foot taller than any opponent and being recruited by major Division I basketball powers proved too much for the Weaver High School boys team Saturday.

Roselle Catholic High School of New Jersey, led by highly-sought junior Nazeron Reid, outran the Beavers 96-75 in Saturday's leadoff game in day three of the Spalding Hoophall Classic, which features some of the best scholastic teams from across the country.

The 6'11" Reid tallied 24 points, collected 11 rebounds, dished off 10 assists and blocked five shots to earn the game's Most Valuable Player award, but by no means was he a one-man team. Nathaniel Pierre-Louis took game scoring honors with 27 points, while two other teammates scored in double figures.

Despite near total ineffectiveness at working the ball inside, Weaver, whose tallest player is 6'6", hung with the Lions for the majority of the contest, trailing by just 10 early in the fourth quarter. However, Chaylyn Martin, one of Weaver's top players, fouled out with 6:35 to go, and Roselle Catholic gradually pulled away from that point.

Jaecee Martin, who was voted the team's most outstanding player of the game, led the Beavers with 23 points, seven assists and six steals. Chaylyn Martin had 13 points, Jayquan Williams had 12 and Andre Lyons added 10.

Weaver is now 7-2, with both defeats coming at the hands of out-of-state powerhouses. The Beavers last lost an in-state game in the Class LL championship matchup last spring, won by Hillhouse in a double-overtime thriller.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen