Leemen rally victory over Eagles, 58-46
- By Hubert F. Grim III For The News Virginian
FISHERSVILLE — The names have changed over the years, but Robert E. Lee’s dominance of Greensville County in the state basketball tournament remains the same.
Lee’s reserve Akadeon Napier ignited a huge third-quarter charge Friday night as the Leemen rallied from a five-point deficit to pull away from the Eagles for a 58-46 victory in the Class 2 boys’ basketball state quarterfinals at Wilson Memorial High School.
The Leemen and Eagles crossed paths three times during the state tournament when Lee was in the midst of its 85-game winning streak. Lee beat Greensville twice for the championships in 2004 and 2005, and then in the semifinals in 2006.
Although a lot of years have passed since the two teams had last seen one another, the outcome proved to be the same again, only this time the Eagles had the Leemen on the ropes for two-and-a-half quarters until Napier sprung to life.
The Leemen hadn’t been able to buy a 3-pointer the entire game before Napier started bombing away. With Lee trailing 29-24 at the 4:12 mark of the third, Napier drilled back-to-back baskets, including a 3, to deadlock the game at 29.
After Blaize Velvin’s triple gave Lee a 32-30 lead, Napier’s second bomb sparked a 8-1 spurt to end the quarter, giving the Leemen a 40-33 advantage.
“We realized they were going to try to keep the ball out of Jarvis’ hands,” Napier said. “We had to find other way to score. They were leaving the 3 wide open, but just couldn’t make any shots in the first half. I was able to get a couple good looks and hit them in the third quarter.”
The Leemen never relinquished the lead in the fourth. Another basket by Napier, who finished with 12 points, and a three-point play by Jarvis Vaughan opened the cushion to 48-37 with 5:11 remaining.
Greensville got as close as seven, 48-41, at the 4:21 mark, but Lee sealed a state semifinal berth by scoring the next five points, two off a monster slam by Vaughan. Lee hit 8-of-10 free throws in the final quarter.
“We were a little too excited, a little bit nervous to start the game,” Lee acting head coach Terrell Mickens said. “Greensville came out hot and played well early. I told the guys all they had to do was to settle down and weather the storm, and we would be just fine.
“They did a good job of slowing Jarvis down. We needed someone to step up and hit the outside shots, and Napier hit a couple big ones in the third quarter,” Mickens said.
Lee plays either Central Woodstock or Goochland on Tuesday back at Wilson Memorial for the right to play for the Class 2 championship.
The Eagles, who also lost to Lee during the 2006 regular season at JMU, soared to a quick 10-1 lead midway of the first quarter as Lee couldn’t hit a shot and turned the ball over four times.
Lee’s defense finally started to settle in over the last four minutes, but Greensville still led 16-7 after eight minutes.
Vaughan opened the second period with four quick points that cut the deficit to 16-11. The Eagles took a 19-13 advantage before Lee used an 8-1 spurt that gave the Leemen their first lead of the game, 21-20, at the 1:01 mark.
Greensville, which didn’t hit a field goal in the second period, hit three free throws in the finally minute for a 23-21 lead at the break.
GREENSVILLE COUNTY (46) — Odom 5 5-6 15, James 2 1-3 5, Fields 4 3-4 12, Anderson 1 3-6 5, Walton 1 0-0 3, Young 1 1-2 3, Mays 1 1-6 3, TOTALS 15 14-27 46.
LEE HIGH (58) — Velvin 2 3-4 8, Williams 2 1-4 5, Pettiford 2 1-2 5, Henderson 1 0-0 2, Vaughan 4 8-12 16, Napier 4 2-2 12, Castle 1 2-2 4, Elliston 2 0-0 4, Simmons 0 2-2 2, Simms, TOTALS 18 19-28 58.
GREENSVILLE 16 7 10 13 — 46
LEE HIGH 7 14 19 18 — 58