WINDSOR
The Windsor Dukes registered their only third win on Wednesday night, defeating a team other than Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the first time this season. The 52-49 victory over Brunswick was especially important for head coach Brandon Bossick and athletic director Chuck Parrish, who heaped nothing but praise over the young team.

“This was a program-changing win,” Parrish said.

“Throughout the season, we have showed moments of playing to our potential,” Bossick said. “In all of our games, we were in it the first half — except for [an 82-34 loss to] Park View. We did not play up to our potential in the first half of [Wednesday’s game], but they responded well to the challenge.”

The teams played evenly through the first period, and the Dukes trailed by two, 11-9, as play started in the second quarter. Brunswick went on a 10-0 run to push their lead to 21-9, and Bossick was forced to call a timeout when things got chippy underneath the basket.

“Brunswick is and has been one of the top boys basketball programs in the state for many years,” the fifth-year head coach said. “Their coaching staff is extremely knowledgeable, and their kids all compete with class and dignity.”

The Dukes slowly methodically climbed back into the game as the half came to a close, but Brunswick’s Treven Easter made sure the Bulldogs went into the locker room with a 28-24 lead. The point guard scored 6 of his 11 points in the final two minutes.

From thereon, the game would be one to remember for freshman point guard Shamon Reid-Wilkerson, who went toe-to-toe on the offensive end with Easter. While the visitor would be held scoreless for the remainder of the game, it was Reid-Wilkerson who would lead his team to victory.

“He is only a freshman, but does not play like one,” Bossick said. “He made some big momentum-changing shots for us.”

Reid-Wilkerson scored 10 of his 16 points in the third quarter as the Dukes took a 37-36 lead into the fourth quarter. He filled up the stat sheet by adding five assists and two steals, as well.

The final frame was a back-and-fourth affair, with Brunswick taking the lead and then Windsor regaining it. But the game came down to who held onto the ball in the waning minutes of the contest. Underclassmen Seth Cooper, who entered the game for an injured Hunter Williams (seven points, nine rebounds), came up with a clutch putback layup and a steal at the other end to send Reid-Wilkerson to the line to seal the game.

“In order for us to win, we needed to play team basketball, and we did that,” Bossick said.