Pitt Basketball Pledge Carlton Carrington Improves in Second Loss at Peach Jam Finals

The future Pitt Panther Carrington cut down on the turnovers and missed shots but his team still lost.

PITTSBURGH -- There's no rest for the weary, particularly for Pitt Panthers commit Carlton Carrington and Team Melo, as they played their second game in as many days at Peach Jam, the biggest event on the AAU basketball calendar. They lost narrowly to Mac Irvin Fire on Monday afternoon and have now fallen quickly to 0-2 for the week, despite an improved game from Carrington, who played more minutes than anyone on the floor. 

After hoisting a team-high 13 shots in a 63-53 loss to Brad Beal Elite on Sunday, Carrington cut back on his attempts and ended with a far more efficient shooting line. He cracked double-figures for the first time, tallying 12 points on 10 shots, including a 2-4 mark from 3-point distance (his last attempt was a final heave when the game was already out of hand). Most of his attempts were good looks, either coming in rhythm against contesting defenders or wide open.  

With his opponents holding in zone defense for the entirety of the game, Carrington manned the middle of Team Melo's offense. He cut in and out from the top of the paint and sought open teammates from his spot inside the teeth of the Fire defense. But his inclination to pass appeared rushed at times, particularly in transition. He accounted for just one assist and four turnovers.  

The game changed hands often over the course of three quarters, but Mac Irvin Fire rode the strength of a 22-point second quarter and carried an eight-point lead into the final frame. Tayshawn Bridges, a four-star combo guard and top-100 player in the class of 2024 according to 247Sports, torched Team Melo driving to the basket. His quickness and finishing ability manifested in a game-high 18 points.  

Two late free throws from Carrington pulled Team Melo within two points with 6.1 seconds remaining, but time ran out on them. The Fire shot just 58% from the free throw line, but their 6-9 mark from the field after intermission carried them to the four-point win. 

Team Melo will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon, when they meet Team United at 2:00 p.m. on Court 1 at the Riverview Activities Center in Augusta, South Carolina. 

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