Laurel Locks up Regional Final Berth

Ron Bailey, Publisher

March 7, 2007 – Last night at their gym, the Laurel High School Spartans (21-2) defeated Bowie High School 50-46 in Maryland Southern Region 4A play last night, thereby earning an opportunity to play Eleanor Roosevelt at Wise High School tomorrow. It was defense that propelled Keith Coutreyer’s team over the Bulldogs.

Throughout the first half, Laurel employed a 2-3 zone defense, one that Bowie (16-8) handled fairly well, resulting in a slim 22-20, intermission advantage for the Spartans. Coutreyer then decided to shake things up given the teams having faced one another twice previously this season, employing a 2-2-1 press, backed by a man-to man scheme.

Killian Azah made several key plays to close the game.

“We had to stop the ball somehow, so we had to switch up our defense to get it done” shared senior pivot man Will Alston, who scored seven points, 15 below his 22 point average, due to Bowie’s defensive focus.

“We used to match up on the shooters to be honest with you” revealed Coutreyer. “We hadn’t really played 2-2-1 all year…I think one of the hardest things in team sports, is to beat a team three times in a year. It’s extremely difficult, you get scouted, you scout. They know what we do, we know what they do”.

The switch had immediate results, but to their credit, Bowie, led by sophomore Devon Goode’s and senior Dwayne Jackson’s 14 points a piece, chipped away at two 10 point deficits to pull within three with around three and a half minutes in regulation. Tthe reasons for their comeback were half court dribble penetration and Laurel’s lack of execution.

“We just made dumb plays at the time” opined Coutreyer of his team’s non-attentiveness. “Defensive breakdown and rushing on offense when you have a ten point lead”.

In terms of getting to the basket, Bladensburg late in the game employed a one high, four low deployment, resulting in several successful drives for Goode and Jackson.

“We were just saying we have to pack it in, and stop this penetration. And rotate and cut it off” said Alston of the changes his team made to stop the Bulldog’s driving.

“We were trying to angle them out” added senior Killian Azah, who provided 11 points. “We had to cut them off”.

That they did, but foul shooting was almost Laurel’s undoing, a fact Azah lamented, saying “As a team, a whole, we all need to work on that. Playoff free throws are different. It’s confidence. All it is, is confidence”: The Spartans shot 52% from the free throw line, including missing four of their last nine (Bowie shared similar problems, logging a 67% mark from the charity stripe – clanking five of eight down the stretch themselves).

Nevertheless, Laurel was happy to advance, a sentiment advanced by Coutreyer, who said “The guys gutted it out…You just have to find a way to win the game”.

Will they defeat an upstart Roosevelt team tomorrow and thereby earn a berth in the 4A Final Four? Stay tuned.