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| Lake Weir's Tamarrio Riley looks to the basket after battling for a loose ball with Leesburg's Robert Jones (10). The Hurricanes fell to Leesburg, 70-59. BRUCE ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER |
Jackets overwelm Lake Weir in Regional Semifinal 70-59
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 22, 2011
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 22, 2011
CANDLER - When the Leesburg Yellow Jackets Basketball team lost the Class 4A District 5 Championship game to Lake Weir 76-75 they realize they would have to play on the road throughout the playoffs. When they arrived at Ocala Lake Weir High School 2 hours before tipoff on Tuesday night the parking lot had several hundred Hurricane and Jackets fans trying to find tickets for the Regional Semifinal Matchup. The game was already sold out with a standing room only crowd inside the Lake Weir gymnasium. It would be the fourth meeting between the two top ten teams.
Leesburg Head Coach Marcel Thomas was leading his Jackets, who have only one senior in the starting lineup into gym where the Hurricanes had lost one time this season. He didn't know how his young Jackets would react to such a loud and hostile environment. Sophomore sensation guard Undra Mitchem, Jr. scored 20 points and led Leesburg to a 70-59 victory over Lake Weir. Undra Mitchem, Jr. showed the Lake Weir crowd why he is considered as the #28 ranked player in the state by Florida Hoops 2013 class. Leesburg advances to Saturdays Class 4A Region 2 Championship -- the Florida High School Athletic Association equivalent of college basketball's "Elite Eight." They will face Nature Coast in Brooksville, the winner advances to the State Final Four in Lakeland.
Marcel Thomas the Leesburg High School boys coach, at the traditional powerhouse , had led the Yellow Jackets to a 25-4 record, including a 70-59 win Tuesday against Ocala Lake Weir in the Class 4A-Region 2 semifinals. The Jackets had four players score in double figures
"Our guys came into this game with a chip on their shoulders," Thomas said. "Losing to (Ocala Lake Weir) in the district championship game cancelled out the two regular season wins we had against them. We wanted another chance to play them after that loss."
It was the Yellow Jackets' third win over the 'Canes in four meetings this season, and it was a measure of revenge for Lake Weir's 76-75 upset win in the District 4A-5 Tournament two weeks ago.
"When you get to this level, you've got to bring you're A-game and play good for four quarters and we didn't do that tonight," Lake Weir head coach Mike Surber said. "That was the difference, but that doesn't take anything away from our season. Our guys did a great job."
Leesburg (25-4) held Lake Weir's Dee Lewis in check thanks largely to a punishing zone defense and firm command of the boards by the Jackets Robert Jones. Leesburg finished with a 38-30 rebounding edge, including 10-5 in the decisive second quarter.
The Jackets gain momentum over their hosts with a 12-2 run to end the first half. It turned a 19-18 Lake Weir lead into a 30-21 deficit, and the Hurricanes never got closer than eight points for the rest of the way.
The Jackets gain momentum over their hosts with a 12-2 run to end the first half. It turned a 19-18 Lake Weir lead into a 30-21 deficit, and the Hurricanes never got closer than eight points for the rest of the way.
Robert Jones, Leesburg's 6-foot-6 senior center, controlled the boards and held Lake Weir to one shot per possession. Jones finished with a game-high 15 rebounds to go with his 10 points, while his brother D'mauri Jones added nine boards and 14 points.
"Our guys were committed to getting one stop at a time," Leesburg head coach Marcel Thomas said. "We showed real patience tonight, both on offense in how we attacked the basket, and on defense by getting stops and then getting rebounds."
Lake Weir (23-6) fell behind 47-31, at the end the third quarter. Lake Weir opened the fourth stanza with Jamal Ross scoring a 3 then a Dee Lewis dunk and another 3 by Ross and suddenly the Hurricanes were within 8 and the packed house going wild. Leesburg was forced to take a timeout and Thomas settled his team down during the break in action and Jackets answered with a 6-1 run that extended the lead to 53-40 with about 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Lake Weir couldn't answer Leesburg run and the overflow crowd started heading for the exits.
"Our guys understood that a team like Lake Weir, if we don't answer their run then it could get ugly for us," Thomas said. "We knew they'd make a run and we were ready for it."
Senior center Tamarrio Riley kept Lake Weir close with a game-high 21 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Lewis who scored 29 in the District Championship game and Marion County leading scorer at 20.9 points per game — was hounded by multiple Jacket defenders from start to finish. Through three quarters, the junior guard had just seven points on 2-of-11 shooting, but Lewis rallied late as the Hurricanes refused to surrender and finished with 20 points.
"It's been exciting to see people lined up out in the parking lot," Surber said. "I told the guys, you ought to be proud. The stands are filled up with a lot of people from different schools. It feels good that everybody in Marion County supported us. That's a credit to my kids."
Leesburg was led by Undra Mitchem, who has 20 points, followed by Joe Toolie, who had 16. D'Mauri Jones added 12 points and Robert Jones dropped in 10 points.
Ocala Lake Weir was led by Tamario Riley with 21 points.
Article provided by:
www.leesburgladyjacketsbasketball.com
RESOURCES
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
Article provided by:
www.leesburgladyjacketsbasketball.com
RESOURCES
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
About the Author
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
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