Robertson totals a career-high 43 points in Athens' 70-52 win over Green Hope

By: Zachary Adams

1/29/19

CARY, NC -- Northern Kentucky signee DJ Robertson put on a show for the fans at Green Hope High School on Tuesday night. Robertson totaled a career-high 43 points to lead High School OT #20 Athens Drive (14-5, 4-1) past Green Hope (6-14, 0-6), 70-52. Senior PJ Fenton, Green Hope's leading scorer at 17.4 points per game, did not play Tuesday.

The Falcons opened the game "flying high". After two free throws by Athens Drive senior guard Chase Graham, Green Hope would go on a 7-0 run. Junior Teddy Rasmussen scored five of the seven Falcon points on the run. Rasmussen drilled a three from the left wing, then got a baseline scoop shot to drop. The Jaguars would finally get a bucket to break to early run, as CJ Mitchell found Jonah Milchuck for an easy lay-up. Milchuck's deuce cut the Green Hope lead to 7-4 with 4:23 to play in the opening frame. Just 10 seconds later, Justen Grant completed an old-fashioned three point play to make it 10-4 in favor of the home side. After not starting, DJ Robertson made an immediate comeback off the bench for Athens on both ends. "Racks" Robertson would pick-off an errant Falcon pass and finish a two-hand jam, making it 12-8 Green Hope. After Jalen Corprew sunk two foul shots to give Green Hope the 14-8 edge, Athens forward Jonah Milchuck would respond with a deep three to make it 14-11 Falcons with just under a minute to play in the quarter. After two DJ Robertson free throws, Falcon junior Tavaras Vann would close the half by grabbing an offensive board and getting a bank shot to fall at the first quarter horn. Vann's hard-earned bucket gave Green Hope the 16-13 edge after eight minutes of play.

Both sides would trade buckets to begin the second quarter. 3:10 into the second quarter, the Jaguars would move the rock well and the possession concluded with a sweet three point bucket by Chase Graham. Green Hope's lead was just two after Graham's three, at 20-18. After trailing by as many as eight in the first quarter, Athens Drive would take the lead. DJ Robertson forced yet another Green Hope turnover and he finished off a nifty lay-up to give his team the 24-23 lead. Robertson would remain in "attack mode", as he concluded his nine point frame with a three point play. At intermission, the game was tied up at 27.

After intermission, Athens Drive would punch Green Hope right in the mouth. Tevon Johnson opened the third stanza with a corner three off the feed from CJ Mitchell. Johnson's three sparked a 7-2 run by the visitor's. When the Falcons called timeout, the Jaguars were up 34-29 with 5:47 to play in the quarter. Frustration would begin to set in for the home team about halfway through the frame. The officials assessed the Green Hope bench a technical foul and DJ Robertson would make both technical free throws to put Athens Drive up 40-31. After the bench technical, Tevon Johnson and DJ Robertson would knock down back-to-back threes, putting the Jaguars up 46-31 with 3:44 to play in the third. A 17-point quarter from Robertson allowed Athens Drive to take the 52-39 lead going into the fourth and final quarter.

The Jaguars would continue to knock down perimeter shots in the fourth. Tevon Johnson and DJ Robertson would once again go back-to-back from long distance, giving the visitor's the 58-39 lead with 6:31 to go. Green Hope would just not go away. The Falcons would put together a 9-0 run to make it 62-51 Jaguars with 3:51 left. The 9-0 run was highlighted by threes from Jeremiah Lewis and Devin Knowles, along with a Ben Maske floater. DJ Robertson (because who else??) would end the Falcons' run with yet another three ball. Athens Drive would go onto win by 18 points, 70-52, to extend the Jaguars' win streak to three games.

DJ Robertson led Athens Drive and all scorers by pouring in a career-high 43 points. Robertson scored 30 of those 43 points in the second half and he finished with 17 made field goals. Both Jonah Milchuck and Tevon Johnson contributed nine points a piece for the Jaguars. Tavaras Vann finished with eight points to pace Green Hope. Justen Grant, Devin Knowles, and Jeremiah Lewis all had seven points for the Falcons.

Both the Jaguars and Falcons will have home games this Friday. Athens Drive will face their arch rival, Cary at 8:00pm. Green Hope will be in-action against Riverside at 6:30pm.