February 23, 2001|By Joe Williams of The Sentinel Staff
JACKSONVILLE -- Leesburg overcame a disastrous start to the second half to beat Jacksonville Wolfson 89-85 Thursday night in a boys basketball regional quarterfinal playoff game.
Leesburg (27-5), ranked seventh in the Class 5A Florida Sports Writers Association Poll, won the game thanks to the junior guard Brandon Kelley, who had the biggest scoring night in his career, and senior Marlyn Bryant, who made clutch baskets down the stretch.
With the victory, the Yellow Jackets advance to Tuesday night's Class 5A, North Region 1 semifinal against the winner of the Bay County-Fort Walton Beach Game.
Kelley finished with a career-high of 37 points and Bryant, playing on a sprained left ankle, had 14 points.
"Without Marlyn, we know we have to pick it up,'' Kelley said. "I felt like any time I touched the ball, I could score.
"But it was an entire team effort.''
Kelley's performance was matched by Wolfson's Will Holoman, who also had 37 points.
"I knew he [Holoman] was good, but I didn't realize he could create his own shots that easily,'' Leesburg Coach Chad Keller said.
Leesburg was leading 53-47 entering the third quarter, but committed four turnovers in the first 1:16 seconds at seven in the first 302 of the period.
That keyed a big 20-4 run by Wolfson (27-4), which entered the game ranked fifth in the state. Wolfson took its first lead of the night on a basket by Holoman with 6:44 remaining in the third period.
The game was reminiscent of Saturday night's district final, when Leesburg entered the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead, but lost to Belleview on a last-second basket.
"We were talking about that we weren't going to let it happen again,'' Kelley said.
"We let the Belleview game get away from us, and we weren't going to let that happen tonight.''
Bryant, who re-injured his left ankle when he appeared to slip on a wet spot on the floor earlier in the fourth period, came through in the end.
He scored seven straight points, including two on an offensive rebound with 1:32 remaining, to give Leesburg the lead for good at 84-83.
Kelley helped Leesburg get to a great start in the game, scoring 25 of his points in the first half.
"Brandon had a phenomenal game,'' Keller said. "Brandon stepped up and came through.
"It was one heck of a ballgame.''
Leesburg (27-5), ranked seventh in the Class 5A Florida Sports Writers Association Poll, won the game thanks to the junior guard Brandon Kelley, who had the biggest scoring night in his career, and senior Marlyn Bryant, who made clutch baskets down the stretch.
With the victory, the Yellow Jackets advance to Tuesday night's Class 5A, North Region 1 semifinal against the winner of the Bay County-Fort Walton Beach Game.
Kelley finished with a career-high of 37 points and Bryant, playing on a sprained left ankle, had 14 points.
"Without Marlyn, we know we have to pick it up,'' Kelley said. "I felt like any time I touched the ball, I could score.
"But it was an entire team effort.''
Kelley's performance was matched by Wolfson's Will Holoman, who also had 37 points.
"I knew he [Holoman] was good, but I didn't realize he could create his own shots that easily,'' Leesburg Coach Chad Keller said.
Leesburg was leading 53-47 entering the third quarter, but committed four turnovers in the first 1:16 seconds at seven in the first 302 of the period.
That keyed a big 20-4 run by Wolfson (27-4), which entered the game ranked fifth in the state. Wolfson took its first lead of the night on a basket by Holoman with 6:44 remaining in the third period.
The game was reminiscent of Saturday night's district final, when Leesburg entered the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead, but lost to Belleview on a last-second basket.
"We were talking about that we weren't going to let it happen again,'' Kelley said.
"We let the Belleview game get away from us, and we weren't going to let that happen tonight.''
Bryant, who re-injured his left ankle when he appeared to slip on a wet spot on the floor earlier in the fourth period, came through in the end.
He scored seven straight points, including two on an offensive rebound with 1:32 remaining, to give Leesburg the lead for good at 84-83.
Kelley helped Leesburg get to a great start in the game, scoring 25 of his points in the first half.
"Brandon had a phenomenal game,'' Keller said. "Brandon stepped up and came through.
"It was one heck of a ballgame.''
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Joe WilliamsSentinel Staff
Orlando Sentinel
www.orlandosentinel.com
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February 23, 2001
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.com
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.com
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com
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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