HTC Day Two: Defending Champs Go Down; Finals Feature Local Flavor
Ivan McDowell, Southeast/Mid-South Editor
December 28, 2007 - Day two of the 25th Annual Huntsville Times Classic found three local teams surviving, one of which upset defending champion Hillcrest. Here’s a recap below:
Joshua Langford is showing he's a rising player in the 'Dirty Dirty'.
Lee 67 Hillcrest 64- the Lee Generals overcame 23 turnovers and 21 points from Hillcrest’s Tarvis Williams for the upset and advance to the semifinals on Saturday. Hillcrest is the tournaments’ defending champs, but is going home early. Lee will battle city rival Butler in the second semifinal later tonight.
Chase Robinson led Lee High with 18 points, but struggled with his decision making throughout. The Generals got out to a 22-11 first quarter lead and held off the Vikings late.
Tyrone Evans and Kerrell Davis scored 14 and 12, respectively for the visitors from Memphis, Tennessee.
Butler 62 Hazel Green 44 – Butler held the Trojans to just 14 first half points, while shooting a robust 56% for the game, in running away from a well-coached Hazel Green squad.
Sophomore Ryan Erwin dropped 20 points for the Rebels and fabulous frosh Trevor Lacy added 13 in the win.
Hazel Green’s James Humphrey led all scorers with 23 points, but the Trojans were just 2-for-13 from beyond the arc and shot 36 % from the field.
J.O. Johnson 57 Madison Academy 49- the first half of this game appeared to be a page out of the tortoise and the hare fairytale. The Jags almost ran the Mustangs out of the gym thanks to a surprising three-point stroke from 6’7 Antwon Jackson (16 points, seven boards), who was 3-for-3 from downtown. In fact, Johnson led 22-10 after one quarter.
Fortunately for Madison Academy, there are four quarters of basketball in the high school ranks and the second half is where they made their move.
Coach Andy Blackstone slowed the tempo and got Johnson into a half court game and his Mustangs climbed back in it. Junior guard Kerron Johnson (15 points) hit a pair of three’s, as part of an 8-2 run, that closed the once 17-point deficit down to five, 45-40.
A scoring drought by both teams held the game hostage for six minutes. Madison Academy didn’t score their first points (two free throws) of the fourth until the 1:16 mark. The Jags held on for the eight point victory and will face LaVergne (TN) in the first semifinal tonight.
Bawa Muniri scored a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort.
LaVergne (TN) 65 Hayes 59- The backcourt trio of DeMario Watkins (17 points), Justin Bather (14 points) and Marcus Jefferson (18 points) scored 49 of the teams’ 65 points, while holding Hayes to just 4-of-22 shooing from three-point range en route to a hard fought win.
DeMario Watkins (left) and Marcus Jefferson (right) did their thing for LaVergne.
6’7 Junior forward Ed Daniels controlled the post for Hayes with 18 points and 10 caroms.
The Wolverines shot a healthy 59% from the field for the game and set the tone in the first quarter with the shooting of Watkins and Jefferson; leading by eight after the first quarter. Hayes played even the rest of the way.
Semifinals:
J.O. Johnson 75 LaVergne 72- Easily the best game of the tournament was Johnson High’s best performance of the season. Sophomore forward Joshua Langford held his coming out party at the expense of the Wolverines.
The 6-foot-6 Langford displayed his complete game; facing up from both the right and left baseline and knocking down the jumper, as well as, taking his man off the dribble and finishing at the rim. In all Langford scored 23 points and grabbed seven boards. Football/basketball star Cameron Logan added 20 via a steady jumper and drives to the hole.
LaVergne’s backcourt continued to shine despite the loss. Marcus Jefferson continued to please the crowd with his impressive game. The junior dropped 34 on the Jags. Sharp shooting DeMario Watkins chipped in 24 points.
Butler 69 Lee 41- This one was over early as city rivals met up for the second time this season. High flyers Trevor Lacy (21 points, seven rebounds) and Ralph Eason (14 points, seven boards) led a Rebel attack that shot 82% in the first half, mostly on lay ups, and 66% for the game.
Generals top scorer Chase Robinson scored 13 points to lead Lee, but had very little help from his teammates, who collectively shot a porous 28% from the floor.
Finals:
Saturday @ 7:00 pm
J.O. Johnson vs. Butler