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Jeffrey Williford possesses a name that would perfectly fit within a Victorian era novel, but the basketball squad at the Girard Academic Music Program, 2136 W. Ritner St., delights in having the 17-year-old as a contemporary character in their story. With his leadership and scoring touch, the Pioneers are looking to their star to co-author riveting chapters that include postseason progress.
“My mentality is that I’ll do whatever to help this team to go places,” the senior said Jan. 2 at his Girard Estate-situated school following the unit’s 46-40 Division E loss to the Elverson Bulldogs. “We have to go about our business, and I have to continue to step up under pressure.”
The Northeast Philly inhabitant has relished his role as a go-to guy for coach Art Kratchman and eagerly anticipated his swan song campaign, especially after last year’s 12-12 record that featured nine league wins, the most in the program’s 23-year history. Minus the services of graduate and 1,183-point scorer Tobias Stokes, the Pioneers entered the season needing Williford to exude the confidence that has made him a two-time All-Public selection. Extremely willing to shoulder the chore, he had to wait four games to do so because of a foot injury.
“I definitely didn’t like being out,” the point guard, who returned Dec. 21, said. “Being a four-year starter, I wanted to be out there getting us victories. Now that I’m back, I’m trying to take us far.”
He helped the Pioneers win the consolation game of December’s Haddon Heights, N.J.-based Butch McLean Memorial Tournament by depositing 30 points in two contests. Happy to have decent duels against nonleague opponents, Williford knows he and his mates, who tallied a 3-0 mark in league matchups without their floor general, must regularly dump their rivals to become a force.
“Everyone plays hard, but our only concern is how we play,” the left-hander said. “It was a bit disappointing today, but a crucial stretch is coming up, so we’re not going to dwell on it.”
The afternoon affair presented an interesting contrast, as the Pioneers entered with seven games to their names and only a five-day rest period while the Bulldogs ventured to South Philly with a 1-2 register and two weeks away from competition. That gulf seemed telling in the first quarter, as Williford totaled eight points and three assists, drawing gasps with his third of four field goals, a dazzling move between two defenders that ended with a layup. The home bunch raced to a 16-7 lead yet yielded the final five points of the frame to draw critiques from Kratchman.
“I think you look soft defensively,” the head man said to his charges. “There has to be more intensity.”
The second quarter gave Kratchman a tad more pleasure from a defensive point of view but caused him to cringe over the lack of offensive cohesion, as GAMP netted only two field goals and a pair of free throws from senior perimeter threat Dante Sanguiliano. Guarding a 22-21 halftime edge, the Pioneers knew versatility on both ends would help them to continue to pen a worthwhile tale.
The visitors quickly gained the lead after the break but could not extend it beyond three points, as crisp shooting from Sanguiliano, who produced a four-point play, sophomore guard Matt Ventus and Williford, who stroked eight points, including a perfect three-point attempt, enabled them to retain a one-point cushion, this time by 36-35, as the final eight minutes commenced. Having heard from Kratchman that limiting Elverson to 39 points would likely produce smiling faces at the buzzer, they tried to deny the Bulldogs any treats, but the guests used patience on their end and haste on GAMP’s side to bite the home club.
“I think we had a dip in our intensity in the fourth,” Williford, who accounted for GAMP’s only last session buckets with a pair of layups, said. “That’s not something a team hungry for distinction does, so we’ll talk about that and make changes. We’ll get better.”
Eager to improve the mental state of his team, the teenager is also pondering improving physical natures as a nurse. Also interested in kinesiology, he aims to duplicate his resolve on the court by not rushing his college choice or major, with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven, Millersville and Temple universities expressing interest.
“Jeffrey is a special kid,” Kratchman said before his primary ballhandler generated 20 points. “He’s a great leader for us.”
If Williford is to devise playoff plots, the Pioneers, who last season scored a 72-68 preliminary postseason triumph over Robeson in which he totaled 16 points, cannot afford to squander fourth-quarter leads no matter how small. They began a three-games-in-four-days schedule Monday with a 58-56 victory against Parkway-Northwest and followed that up Tuesday with a 44-41 win versus Maritime Academy. They will host Philadelphia Academy 3:15 today.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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