AAA Liberty Boys
Seahawks Move Into First Place
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Senior Travis Williams's 19 points were enough to give South Lakes a 43-33 victory at Jefferson last night, but it was the shots the speedy three-point threat didn't take that helped the Seahawks overcome the methodical Colonials and move into first place in the Virginia AAA Liberty District.
"We knew we had to keep our composure and not fall into their game," Williams said.
Williams, who scored 10 of his 19 in the fourth quarter, dribbled his way out of two shots -- a deep three-pointer and an open layup -- to help the Seahawks (11-5, 7-1) nurse and extend a fragile six-point lead in the final two minutes as Jefferson used its slow-paced style to try to neutralize the Seahawks' athleticism.
"They make you play ugly," South Lakes Coach Darryl Branch said of Jefferson's style. "If he takes those shots and misses and they get the ball back, then something weird might happen."
Jefferson (5-10, 3-5), which has averaged 4.6 wins per season since 2000 and gone 8-42 in its district since joining the Liberty in 2005, has knocked off Marshall, Langley and W.T. Woodson in its previous five district games. The Colonials have done it primarily on the strength of 6-foot-9, 200-pound senior Spencer de Mars and a cast of cerebral guards.
Last night, South Lakes senior forward Jamal Hulum held de Mars to 11 points by "playing him physical," said Hulum, who is 6-5 and 185 pounds. "He's one of the best big men in the Northern Region, but you just have to play him physical."
De Mars blocked four shots and altered four others.
Hulum was also part of a third-quarter full-court press that forced six turnovers and held Jefferson to one point as the Seahawks extended their one-point halftime lead to 29-19 going into the final period. Jefferson shot 13 of 52 (25 percent).
"If people are going to sag on Spencer, you have to hit the 15-foot jump shot," Colonials Coach Ed Grimm said. "We did everything except one thing, and that was shoot the ball well. They never had to come off Spencer."
South Lakes 43, Jefferson 33 Big Man on Campus: Spencer de Mars scored a perfect score on his SAT and has gained early admittance to MIT. He is an Ivy League recruit who is averaging 13.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Three-Point Man: South Lakes senior guard Steve Kerr hit two three-pointers to spark a 7-0 run to start the third quarter. He has 21 three-pointers this season.
