Brandon Childress Finds Late Magic to Push Deacs Past Duke
2/28/2020 11:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Brandon Childress shook off 79 minutes and 42 seconds of futility this season against the Blue Devils, rising up for a deep 3-pointer that found that bottom of the net to send the game Tuesday at LJVM Coliseum in overtime.
His virtuoso play in the two overtimes of an instant classic contest delivered the first Demon Deacon victory over Duke in six years and sent the crowd rushing to the floor in jubilant celebration.
After going 0-for-6 against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a blowout loss earlier this season, the senior point guard struggled mightily in the return match in front of the home crowd.
Brandon Childress takes a single dribble right then pulls up for a 17-foot baseline jumper that rims out. 0-for-1
Drives 90 feet in a delayed transition off a Duke missed shot. Childress gets bumped by Duke's Vernon Carey and misses one at point-blank range, not even drawing iron as it bounces off the backboard. 0-for-2
A fadeaway 18-foot jumper bounces off the iron, after going more than 12 minutes without a field goal attempt. 0-for-3
Dribbles on the perimeter, drives while maneuvering around help-side defense, goes for a reverse layup that goes over the rim without drawing contact. 0-for-4
Wake Forest held a 12-point first half lead, but went into the break tied with Duke at 39.
"Brandon Childress has been a non-factor," ACC Network announcer Dave O'Brien said on the telecast as the second half was set to begin. "He's yet to score in two games against Duke this season. They're going to need him in the second half."
Works off a ball screen for a step-back 3-point attempt from the wing that hits a lot of rim but falls off. 0-for-5
After penetrating, the help defense collapses and Childress finds himself open for a mid-range jumper that draws iron. 0-for-6
Brings the ball up, works through a ball screen and pulls up for a 17-foot jumper that kerrangs off the rim. 0-for-7
Drives to the basket on the left side, motors past help in the lane and gets to the rim, but the shot is short for another miss. 0-for-8
Works off an Olivier Sarr ball screen at the top of the key for a good look behind the arc that bounces off the front of the rim and backboard. 0-for-9
Rolls off a ball screen and attacks the basket, but the layup falls off the backboard and is cleaned up by Sarr for an and-one. 0-for-10
In the end, none of those first 10 shots really mattered.
When Childress missed his 10th shot, the Deacs were down nine points with 1:12 to go. But Wake capitalized on a pair of steals and a missed Duke free throw, leading to the dramatic 3-pointer by Childress that sent the Joel Coliseum crowd into a tizzy. After a third Duke turnover in the final minute of regulation, Childress actually had a runner at the buzzer that would have won the game that fell off the rim just a smidge long. After a brief facepalm of despair, Childress got the Wake huddle and got to work in the overtime session.
He went 5-for-8 from the field combined in the two overtimes, and the Deacs outscored Duke 16-4 in the second overtime to come away with a 113-101 victory.
"This is all nothing but God," an emotional Childress told ACC Network reporter Katie George. "I had a long prayer with God last night. It's been a rough season. All I asked from God was this: Give me the opportunity to go out there and have fun with my teammates for my last two home games.
"I'm sorry, but when you go through what I've been through throughout my process here at Wake Forest. Nobody believed in me. Nobody believed I could play in this conference. I had friends, locals and even family members tell me I wasn't good enough to play at this level. But coach Manning, coach Woodberry, coach Rex (Walters), my father, coach (Ryan) Horn, — all those guys believed in me. All those guys believed in me. My teammates believed in me. I did everything for them. They told me to stay aggressive and my time would come. This is nothing but God."
Childress put his team on his back down the stretch to knock off the No. 7 team in the country in his penultimate home game. He'll play in front of the LJVM Coliseum fans for the final time at 4 p.m. Saturday when the Deacs host Notre Dame (18-10, 9-8).
"These last two games at The Joel will be memorable for me and my family," Childress said Monday before practice. "It's been an honor and I want to thank everyone for coming out to support me through these four years."
He certainly completed one of the goals he had in mind Monday, the day before toppling the Blue Devils.
"This is my final opportunity playing them, unless we meet in the ACC Tournament," Childress said. "You want to make this game memorable, not just for me, but for the team and the history of the program.
"I obviously have a bad taste in my mouth from the last time we played them, and I want to get that taste out and come out victorious."
On the bench while Childress delivered his heroics was one Randolph Childress, who serves many roles. He's a Demon Deacon legend who's jersey resides in the LJVM Coliseum rafters, but he's also the associate head coach and Brandon's father.
"He's the reason I walk around with my chin up and my head high proud that I have the name Childress on the back of my jersey," Brandon said during ACC Operation Basketball prior to the start of his senior season. "I love that man so much."
"All the sacrifices that man has done for me, every day. All the advice he gave me. All the preparation he gave me. I can't thank that man enough. Putting on the jersey, running through that tunnel, seeing that name up in the rafters for what he's done for this program and for what he's done for me as a father and a coach."
Because Randolph was always overseas playing professional basketball, the first time Brandon actually saw his father on his birthday (Aug. 31) was as a senior in high school.
"This is my last year and the last year for my dad coaching me as well," Brandon said during ACC Media Day. "This is the end of our journey. Let's not attack this as our last run, but take it one day at a time and enjoy the father-son time that we have. He wants me to focus on today."
Their father and son journey took a slight detour Saturday night, when Brandon had a flat tire. It was late, so the duo returned to the scene after practice Sunday. Randolph, who has his right arm in sling, started coaching Brandon on how to change the tire.
"We've spent the majority of our time together on the basketball floor," Brandon said. "But that time just changing the tire was amazing to me.
"We're not talking basketball, we're just trying to fix a car."
At the time, Brandon's car was stuck with a 'donut' in place of the flat tire. Hopefully after making his father proud with his late game heroics Tuesday, he'll be able to get a full-fledged tire.
His virtuoso play in the two overtimes of an instant classic contest delivered the first Demon Deacon victory over Duke in six years and sent the crowd rushing to the floor in jubilant celebration.
After going 0-for-6 against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a blowout loss earlier this season, the senior point guard struggled mightily in the return match in front of the home crowd.
Brandon Childress takes a single dribble right then pulls up for a 17-foot baseline jumper that rims out. 0-for-1
Drives 90 feet in a delayed transition off a Duke missed shot. Childress gets bumped by Duke's Vernon Carey and misses one at point-blank range, not even drawing iron as it bounces off the backboard. 0-for-2
A fadeaway 18-foot jumper bounces off the iron, after going more than 12 minutes without a field goal attempt. 0-for-3
Dribbles on the perimeter, drives while maneuvering around help-side defense, goes for a reverse layup that goes over the rim without drawing contact. 0-for-4
Wake Forest held a 12-point first half lead, but went into the break tied with Duke at 39.
"Brandon Childress has been a non-factor," ACC Network announcer Dave O'Brien said on the telecast as the second half was set to begin. "He's yet to score in two games against Duke this season. They're going to need him in the second half."
Works off a ball screen for a step-back 3-point attempt from the wing that hits a lot of rim but falls off. 0-for-5
After penetrating, the help defense collapses and Childress finds himself open for a mid-range jumper that draws iron. 0-for-6
Brings the ball up, works through a ball screen and pulls up for a 17-foot jumper that kerrangs off the rim. 0-for-7
Drives to the basket on the left side, motors past help in the lane and gets to the rim, but the shot is short for another miss. 0-for-8
Works off an Olivier Sarr ball screen at the top of the key for a good look behind the arc that bounces off the front of the rim and backboard. 0-for-9
Rolls off a ball screen and attacks the basket, but the layup falls off the backboard and is cleaned up by Sarr for an and-one. 0-for-10
In the end, none of those first 10 shots really mattered.
When Childress missed his 10th shot, the Deacs were down nine points with 1:12 to go. But Wake capitalized on a pair of steals and a missed Duke free throw, leading to the dramatic 3-pointer by Childress that sent the Joel Coliseum crowd into a tizzy. After a third Duke turnover in the final minute of regulation, Childress actually had a runner at the buzzer that would have won the game that fell off the rim just a smidge long. After a brief facepalm of despair, Childress got the Wake huddle and got to work in the overtime session.
He went 5-for-8 from the field combined in the two overtimes, and the Deacs outscored Duke 16-4 in the second overtime to come away with a 113-101 victory.
"This is all nothing but God," an emotional Childress told ACC Network reporter Katie George. "I had a long prayer with God last night. It's been a rough season. All I asked from God was this: Give me the opportunity to go out there and have fun with my teammates for my last two home games.
"I'm sorry, but when you go through what I've been through throughout my process here at Wake Forest. Nobody believed in me. Nobody believed I could play in this conference. I had friends, locals and even family members tell me I wasn't good enough to play at this level. But coach Manning, coach Woodberry, coach Rex (Walters), my father, coach (Ryan) Horn, — all those guys believed in me. All those guys believed in me. My teammates believed in me. I did everything for them. They told me to stay aggressive and my time would come. This is nothing but God."
Childress put his team on his back down the stretch to knock off the No. 7 team in the country in his penultimate home game. He'll play in front of the LJVM Coliseum fans for the final time at 4 p.m. Saturday when the Deacs host Notre Dame (18-10, 9-8).
"These last two games at The Joel will be memorable for me and my family," Childress said Monday before practice. "It's been an honor and I want to thank everyone for coming out to support me through these four years."
He certainly completed one of the goals he had in mind Monday, the day before toppling the Blue Devils.
"This is my final opportunity playing them, unless we meet in the ACC Tournament," Childress said. "You want to make this game memorable, not just for me, but for the team and the history of the program.
"I obviously have a bad taste in my mouth from the last time we played them, and I want to get that taste out and come out victorious."
On the bench while Childress delivered his heroics was one Randolph Childress, who serves many roles. He's a Demon Deacon legend who's jersey resides in the LJVM Coliseum rafters, but he's also the associate head coach and Brandon's father.
"He's the reason I walk around with my chin up and my head high proud that I have the name Childress on the back of my jersey," Brandon said during ACC Operation Basketball prior to the start of his senior season. "I love that man so much."
"All the sacrifices that man has done for me, every day. All the advice he gave me. All the preparation he gave me. I can't thank that man enough. Putting on the jersey, running through that tunnel, seeing that name up in the rafters for what he's done for this program and for what he's done for me as a father and a coach."
Because Randolph was always overseas playing professional basketball, the first time Brandon actually saw his father on his birthday (Aug. 31) was as a senior in high school.
"This is my last year and the last year for my dad coaching me as well," Brandon said during ACC Media Day. "This is the end of our journey. Let's not attack this as our last run, but take it one day at a time and enjoy the father-son time that we have. He wants me to focus on today."
Their father and son journey took a slight detour Saturday night, when Brandon had a flat tire. It was late, so the duo returned to the scene after practice Sunday. Randolph, who has his right arm in sling, started coaching Brandon on how to change the tire.
"We've spent the majority of our time together on the basketball floor," Brandon said. "But that time just changing the tire was amazing to me.
"We're not talking basketball, we're just trying to fix a car."
At the time, Brandon's car was stuck with a 'donut' in place of the flat tire. Hopefully after making his father proud with his late game heroics Tuesday, he'll be able to get a full-fledged tire.
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