Ed Chatman and Jackets chain Lee - led 'Dogs, 66-60, February 1977

PG Mathis Walker

By Mel Barlow

Sports Editor

LEESBURG -  It was everything it was built up to be and even more. The Leesburg Yellow Jackets - Deland Bulldogs contest Tuesday night at Ray Hayes Gym was played before a packed house of screaming fans who either came to see their fifth ranked Jackets or the eight ranked Bulldogs. And the majority went away limp after viewing Leesburg's assault of the taller but slower visitors. The 66-60 score could have been larger if the host club hadn't made some costly errors down the stretch.

"I was extremely pleased with our showing," said head Jacket Bill Clendinen. "We executed well throughout and played our usual strong defense. It's a credit to these kids ot have some back tonight against this kind of team after losing to Forest Friday.

"This has to be the most rewarding win of the season."

Deland came into the confrontation with memories of the Jackets 45-44 victory only a month ago. Behind the deadly shooting of 6-7 Oliver Lee, the dogs took a 13-8 lead after the first eight minutes. Lee fired in 10 points during that span and came down with  several key defensive rebounds.

Then with 5:49 remaining in the half. Deland added two points to that margin, 19-12, and it looked like the Yellow Jackets were out to be caught in the middle of a giant offensive explosion.

But that never happened as Leesburg begin to chip away, and suddenly found themselves down by one, 19-18, just 60 seconds later, Bo Peeples pumped in an 18 footer while Ed Chatman canned two shots to narrow the margin.

After trading baskets for the next two minutes, Leesburg finally took the lead, 26-25, with 1:36 remaining. Frank Janeczek got the job done from the foul line, hitting both ends of a one and one.

Frank Janeczek

Johnny Williams popped one from in close to put the Jackets in front again after a Joes Ortez bucket with less than a minute left. But a 15 foot jumper by Lee sent the visitors into the locker room with a 29-28  advantage. 

"We played them close in the first half and I felt we could get to them in the second half," Clendinen said. "The four corner offense helped us slow things down a bit in the third and fourth period's. Mathis Walker was the shortest player on the floor by four inches or so, but when we went into the four corner, it was his ballgame. He was sensational in helping us control things when we had a small lead"

Bo Peeples put the Jackets in front with less than a minute gone in the third stanza on another 15 foot shot. But Deland came right back on a Kevin Lewis layup. Then it was Peeples again from the outside and the host squad led, 32-31.

Deland, again found the range, scoring six quick points and the visitors appeared to be on the verge of controlling the contest. But with 3:53 remaining in the stanza, a Johnny Williams effort swing the advantage back to the Jackets, 38-37.

Johnny "Snap" Williams

After Oliver Lee Sizzler from outside put the Bulldogs ahead 39-38, Leesburg's Ed Chatman hit two quick buckets to give the AAA power the advantage, 42-39, and the Jackets never trailed again during the remaining eight minutes.

"It was another team effort," said Clendinen. "We just kept the pressure on them and after a while we had control of the game. And if we hadn't made some mistakes in the late going, we could have won by a few more points."

Leesburg built the lead to 10, 54-44, at the 3:33 mark of the final quarter, but saw the Bulldgos come within four, 54-50 with three minutes remaining.

"Our kids wouldn't give Oliver the ball," said Art Parissi, Deland mentor. "I was quite upset about that because we needed him to put the ball up as often as he could.

"Now I'm not taking anything away from Leesburg. They are an outstanding team that could play with any AAAA team in the state. Their coaching is excellent and it's hard to believe that five kids can play that kind of defense for 32 minutes. They've now beat us twice fair and square and I'm glad we don't have to face them again."

Ed Chatman paced the Yellow Jackets offensive attack with 25 points But Chatman's defensive effort turned out to be as important, since the 6-3 senior blocked four shots and pull down 14 rebounds against the 6-7 Lee and 6-9 Kevin Lewis.

Lee scored 19 points his season average, but fouled out midway of the final period. Lewis really wasn't a factor in the contest and only contributed four points.

"Leesburg is a very good basketball team," said Lee.

"They put a lot of pressure on you and that hurts a team like us since we don't have the quick guards like they do." "But don't count us out . We'll be there when the state tournament starts," said the preseason Prep All-American.

The Jackets upped their record to 25-2 while the Bulldogs dropped to 19-7. Leesburg received some additional good news after the game, when word came that Gainesville BuchholzOcala Forest, 62-61, giving the Jackets undisputed claim to the Big Sun Conference Title. defeated

We didn't want to back into it," said Clendinen. "But since Buchholz helped us out, we're going to take up a collection and send Woody Clyemer Flowers."

Apopka.

Score by quarters:

Deland 13-16-10-21--60

Leesburg 8-20-14-24--66

Deland - Lee 7-5-19; Lewis 1-2-4; Goodwin 4-2-10; Grady 3-0-6; Clark 1-2-4; Jones 1-0-2; Ortez 3-4-10; Wilkes 1-3-5 Totals 22-18-60

Leesburg - Chatman 10-5-25; Farrior 2-3-7; Walker 1-4-6; Peeples 6-0-12; Williams 4-2-10; Hood 0-2-2; Janeczek 1-2-4; Totals 24-18-66

Fouled out: Peeples, Leesburg; Lee, Goodwin, Grady Deland.

Resources

Mel Barlow

Sports Editor

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Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com

  

 

 

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