BOYS BB: R E Lee - Staunton 69 Buffalo Gap 41 - FINAL
- Thread starter pizzzzza
- Start date
BOYS HOOPS: Lee turns up the heat to put Gap away, 69-41
BUFFALO GAP — Robert E. Lee awoke from its first-half slumber Friday night with a strong second-half showing as the Leemen pulled way for a 69-41 victory over the winless Buffalo Gap Bison in Shenandoah District boys’ basketball.
The game was a far cry from the two teams' first meeting on Dec. 29, when Lee roared to a 29-11 blowout after one period behind 10 Gap turnovers en route to an 82-40 romp.
The Leemen trailed 11-8 after the first quarter and fell behind 16-10 early in the second before turning up the pressure. That was the key ingredient that turned the tide in their favor.
Lee (10-1, 8-1), which is playing three games a week over the last five weeks of the regular season, elected not to press the Bison in the first 12 minutes before the six-point deficit forced a change in plan.
But once the Leemen cranked up the pressure, they finished the half on a 14-4 run that gave Lee a 24-20 lead at the break.
Senior transfer Akadeon Napier sparked the second-quarter uprising with nine points off the bench, including the first seven in the spurt, while fellow reserve Doug Simmons tallied the other five, including a three-point play.
Napier said the heavy game schedule has forced the team to scale back on some of its pressure.
“The last couple games we haven’t been pressing early, waiting for the second half,” he said. “We haven’t had a lot of practice time to save our legs. We have been doing walkthroughs and studying lots of game film.”
But when Lee needed its pressure, it was there. After Gap had only two first-quarter turnovers, the Bison had five in the second, most coming after the pressure picked up.
“It felt great to finally contribute and help the team,” said Napier, who transferred from Waynesboro.
Gap’s zone gave Lee fits in the first half, especially big man Jarvis Vaughan, who was held scoreless after two quick baskets to start the game.
“We had a great first half,” Gap head coach Chad Ward said. “Our guys did an excellent job taking away what Lee wanted to do against the zone. We kept Jarvis frustrated the entire half.”
But the second half looked like vintage Lee with live-ball turnovers turning into baskets.
The Leemen scored the opening 10 points of the third quarter, the first five by Vaughan, including a monster dunk off a missed shot. Lee outscored the Bison 22-6 in the period to open a 46-26 advantage.
“Lee’s size factor on the boards and traps started to take a toll,” Ward said. “We handled the pressure at times, but their depth got to us in the second half.
Lee acting head coach Terrell Mickens liked what he saw from the Leemen after halftime.
“We got after it in the second half,” Mickens said. “I was trying to run a few new things in the first half and work on our half-court defense. The starters didn’t show a lot tonight, but my last 10 guys balled with great effort and energy. Akadeon is starting to play defense like I want, and that is leading to steals and points. He is a great addition to the team.”
Darrion Simms led the Leemen with 15 points, all coming in the fourth quarter. Napier finished with 14 and Vaughan 11.
For Gap (0-14, 0-10), the window is closing fast on avoiding a winless season. The Bison have only eight games remaining in the regular season. If Gap finishes last in the district, it does not qualify for the postseason tournament as only the top eight teams participate.
Weston Smith topped the Bison with 15 points and Koty Fitzgerald had 14.
“I’m not about moral victories,” Ward said. “But I was proud of the way the kids played.”
Lee’s undefeated jayvees continued to cruise merrily along with a 74-28 thumping of the Bison. Ethan Painter sparked three Leemen in double figures with 22 points, while Kyian Brown had 19 and Elijah Simms 13. For the Bison, Cory Conner tallied nine and Noah Canterbury eight.
LEE HIGH (69) — Velvin 1 0-1 2, West 0 0-2 0, Williams 2 3-4 8, Pettiford 1 0-1 3, Henderson 1 2-2 5, Vaughan 5 1-3 11, Simms 7 1-2 15, Napier 6 0-0 14, Elliston 2 0-0 4, Simmons 2 1-1 5, A.Brown 1 0-0 2, Kelly, Castle, Z.Brown, Vest, TOTALS 28 8-16 69.
BUFFALO GAP (41) — Rankin 0 2-2 2, Fitzgerald 6 2-5 14, Wilcher 0 1-2 1, Rivenburg 1 1-2 3, Lyle 2 1-2 6, Smith 5 3-5 15, Hamric, Kiracofe, Weatherman, Matheney, Cross, Holden, Hostetter, TOTALS 14 10-18 41.
LEE HIGH 8 16 22 23 — 69
BUFFALO GAP 11 9 6 15 — 41
- By HUBERT F. GRIM III For The News Virginian
BUFFALO GAP — Robert E. Lee awoke from its first-half slumber Friday night with a strong second-half showing as the Leemen pulled way for a 69-41 victory over the winless Buffalo Gap Bison in Shenandoah District boys’ basketball.
The game was a far cry from the two teams' first meeting on Dec. 29, when Lee roared to a 29-11 blowout after one period behind 10 Gap turnovers en route to an 82-40 romp.
The Leemen trailed 11-8 after the first quarter and fell behind 16-10 early in the second before turning up the pressure. That was the key ingredient that turned the tide in their favor.
Lee (10-1, 8-1), which is playing three games a week over the last five weeks of the regular season, elected not to press the Bison in the first 12 minutes before the six-point deficit forced a change in plan.
But once the Leemen cranked up the pressure, they finished the half on a 14-4 run that gave Lee a 24-20 lead at the break.
Senior transfer Akadeon Napier sparked the second-quarter uprising with nine points off the bench, including the first seven in the spurt, while fellow reserve Doug Simmons tallied the other five, including a three-point play.
Napier said the heavy game schedule has forced the team to scale back on some of its pressure.
“The last couple games we haven’t been pressing early, waiting for the second half,” he said. “We haven’t had a lot of practice time to save our legs. We have been doing walkthroughs and studying lots of game film.”
But when Lee needed its pressure, it was there. After Gap had only two first-quarter turnovers, the Bison had five in the second, most coming after the pressure picked up.
“It felt great to finally contribute and help the team,” said Napier, who transferred from Waynesboro.
Gap’s zone gave Lee fits in the first half, especially big man Jarvis Vaughan, who was held scoreless after two quick baskets to start the game.
“We had a great first half,” Gap head coach Chad Ward said. “Our guys did an excellent job taking away what Lee wanted to do against the zone. We kept Jarvis frustrated the entire half.”
But the second half looked like vintage Lee with live-ball turnovers turning into baskets.
The Leemen scored the opening 10 points of the third quarter, the first five by Vaughan, including a monster dunk off a missed shot. Lee outscored the Bison 22-6 in the period to open a 46-26 advantage.
“Lee’s size factor on the boards and traps started to take a toll,” Ward said. “We handled the pressure at times, but their depth got to us in the second half.
Lee acting head coach Terrell Mickens liked what he saw from the Leemen after halftime.
“We got after it in the second half,” Mickens said. “I was trying to run a few new things in the first half and work on our half-court defense. The starters didn’t show a lot tonight, but my last 10 guys balled with great effort and energy. Akadeon is starting to play defense like I want, and that is leading to steals and points. He is a great addition to the team.”
Darrion Simms led the Leemen with 15 points, all coming in the fourth quarter. Napier finished with 14 and Vaughan 11.
For Gap (0-14, 0-10), the window is closing fast on avoiding a winless season. The Bison have only eight games remaining in the regular season. If Gap finishes last in the district, it does not qualify for the postseason tournament as only the top eight teams participate.
Weston Smith topped the Bison with 15 points and Koty Fitzgerald had 14.
“I’m not about moral victories,” Ward said. “But I was proud of the way the kids played.”
Lee’s undefeated jayvees continued to cruise merrily along with a 74-28 thumping of the Bison. Ethan Painter sparked three Leemen in double figures with 22 points, while Kyian Brown had 19 and Elijah Simms 13. For the Bison, Cory Conner tallied nine and Noah Canterbury eight.
LEE HIGH (69) — Velvin 1 0-1 2, West 0 0-2 0, Williams 2 3-4 8, Pettiford 1 0-1 3, Henderson 1 2-2 5, Vaughan 5 1-3 11, Simms 7 1-2 15, Napier 6 0-0 14, Elliston 2 0-0 4, Simmons 2 1-1 5, A.Brown 1 0-0 2, Kelly, Castle, Z.Brown, Vest, TOTALS 28 8-16 69.
BUFFALO GAP (41) — Rankin 0 2-2 2, Fitzgerald 6 2-5 14, Wilcher 0 1-2 1, Rivenburg 1 1-2 3, Lyle 2 1-2 6, Smith 5 3-5 15, Hamric, Kiracofe, Weatherman, Matheney, Cross, Holden, Hostetter, TOTALS 14 10-18 41.
LEE HIGH 8 16 22 23 — 69
BUFFALO GAP 11 9 6 15 — 41
Similar threads
