Leesburg conquers powerful Deland, 45-44. January 17, 1977

By Mel Barlow

Sports Editor
Daily Commercial

January 17, 1977

Deland - It was a struggle from to start to finish. A battle royal whose outcome seemed to hinge upon every pass, each shot and rebound. It probably was the finest game a Leesburg High School basketball team has ever played especially when you consider the circumstances that it was played under and the rewards that were on the line.

The Jackets came to Deland Saturday to face the second ranked squad in AAAA, one that completely dominated them in the size department. But it was Leesburg that came away displaying a King Size heart in upsetting the Bulldogs 45-44, leaves everyone in attendance totally exhausted.

"We had every opportunity to fold but pride kept us in the game," said an excited coach Bill Clendinen. "We knew we going to have to play them chest to chest in order to control the tempo of the game. I'd say we pretty well accomplished that."

The Yellow Jackets led at the end of each quarter, but only by the tinniest of margins: 9-8, 18-15 and 30-29. Leesburg held the lead 31 times while Deland was on top eight times.

"We didn't want to run with them in the second half." Clendinen said. Everything we did was to control the way they moved the ball down court. We kept them from getting into their normal offensive pattern which put the ball in our hands most of time during the game."

Leesburg jumped into a 7-6 lead at the 2:59 mark of the opening quarter on a shot by Pete Hood. Bo Peeples then hit a jumper that gave the visitors a 9-6 advantage. But Kevin Lewis sank one for the Bulldogs as the quarter came to a close. "We used our four corner stall well tonight," continued Clendinen. "Deland just didn't have the quickness to break it and we got some easy points by using it.

"Mathis Walker dominated the game for us. his ball handling was superb and his total concentration when we were in the stall was unbelievable. Mathis is an unusual person. he's made of the metal out of which great compeititors are molded."

Leesburg led by as many as six points, 16-10 in the second stanza. But again the taller Bulldogs wouldn't roll over and play dead as they came within three at halftime, 18-15.

The pressure begin to build during the third period. The Yellow Jackets again controlled the tempo, using their four corner offense to perfection. But Deland pecked away and finally grabbed the lead at the 1:59 mark, 23-21.

"We know when we came out of the dressing room at the halftime the game was going to be dog eat dog the rest of the way." Clendinen said.

Leesburg answered Deland with two straight buckets giving them a 28-25 lead with 1:35 remaining. But the host club sank a free throw and a two pointer, pulling them within one with 52 seconds remaining, 28-27. Then a jumper by Greg Grady put Deland ahead 29-28 but a Johnny Williams shot with seven seconds to go in the period gave the Jackets a 30-29 advantage.

The Yellow Jackets never trailed in the final stanza until the 1:50 mark. Their biggest lead was four, 35-31 with 5:05 remaining. But Deland came within one at 3:33. Then with the score 41-40 with Leesburg on top at 2:13, the Bulldogs jumped in front on a Lewis stuff.

A foul shot put Deland three up, 44-41 with only 1:15 left and things were looking bleak for the Jackets. Out Bo Peeples drove for a layup with 46 seconds to go and now Leesburg trailed 44-43. Peeples was fouled with less than 20 seconds left and promptly sank both ends of a one and one, putting the Jackets in front 45-44.

Deland called timeout with nine seconds remaining to decide who was going to take the final shot. But their plans didn't work as Scott Wilkes shot hit the rim and as both clubs scrambled for the loose ball time expired.

"Deland's All-American Oliver Lee wasn't much of a factor in the game". Clendinen said. "He got three fouls on him early and sat out most of the first half. Of course it was nice for us when he did foul out because he's the type of player that can get red hot and burn the nets."

Mathis Walker and Bo Peeples paced Leesburg with 10 points each while Deland's Allie Goodwin fired in a game high of 17.

"It's amazing that their big combination of Oliver Lee and Kevin Lewis only produced 15 total points, "Clendinen added.

"Lee is 6-7 and Lewis 6-9"

Leesburg controlled the boards, pulling down 29 to only 23 rebounds for the losers. Ed Chatman had 12 while Johnny Williams grabbed seven.

"I was so pleased with our aggressiveness on the boards, especially when you consider that it would have been quite easy for our kids to have been intimidated by their overpowering size."

The Jackets raised their record to 13-1 and must now prepare for Big Sun Conference foe Ocala Forest who like Leesburg is undefeated in conference action.

"They've won nine or ten in a row," Clendinen said. "Right now, they're the toughest competition we face in the Big Sun We'll need another strong performance by everyone. Its going to be nice playing on our floor since and last three games were on the road."

Deland. They won't be easy to best."

Score by quarters:

Leesburg - 9-9-12-15--45

Deland - 8-7-14-15--44

Individual scoring: 

Leesburg - Chatman 4-1-9; Farrior 2-0-4; Peeples 4-2-10; Williams 4-1-9; Walker 3-4-10, Hood 1-0-2; Janeczek 0-1-1. Totals 18-9-45

Deland - Lee 3-0-6: Lewis 4-1-9; Goodwin 8-1-17; Grady 3-0-6; Jones 3-0-6; Totals 21-2-44

Fouled out Lee, Deland

Resources

By Mel Barlow

Sports Editor
Daily Commercial

January 17, 1977

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

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.

 

 

Leesburg claims first state basketball title

Pg. 8 Daily Commercial, Leesburg, Fla, Monday March 14, 1977

By Mel Barlow
Sports Editor

Lakeland - Without a doubt it was Leesburg High School's finest hour in sports. The Yellow Jackets culminated a spectacular season by overwhelming Marianna in the State Class AAA basketball finals Saturday night before an excited throng that numbered over 7,000 in the Lakeland Civic Center Arena.

The 71-51 count could have been greater if Bill Clendinen had not gone to his bench freely throughout the c0ontest. "We talked bout this goal when we had our first meeting before school started, " Clendenin said "Everyone paid a greater price in bringing us to this point. What happened tonight just show you what belief in yourself can accomplish.

The Jackets, who played before the largest group of Leesburg fans in the school's history, came onto the court with state title stamped all over them, Before Marianna woke up, Clendenin's kids had reeled off 13 straight points and had used 4:01 of the first period. The Bulldogs got their first score on a shot by Gerald Thomas at that point. Leesburg held a 23-6 advantage when the stanza ended.

"We played like champions for eight minutes and then we played like seven year olds for the next four or five minutes Clendinen said  But these kids aren't 30 year old and they still have a thing or two to learn, I'm just glad they were able to holed everything together the rest of the way, Marianna played well after the first period and I think they showed what kind of people they have by not giving up. They kept coming at us even though we had them down by a pretty good spread"

Ed Chatman scored eight points during the opening expansion and finished the contest with a game high 23. Bo Peeples, who turned in a brilliant defensive effort, found the range for the first time during the last two weeks, pumping in 21.

"I see that my team captains led us in scoring tonight," added Clendinen, Both of them displayed great leadership all season. They picked a good way to finish their high school careers."

Eddie Ellis, the Bulldogs fine outside shooter and probably the teams best player, summed up the feelings of Marianna about the Jackets in two sentences "They have the best High School Basketball I have ever seen I think they could beat everyone in the state." Ellis paced the losers with 14 points.

Marianna did mount a mild comeback in the second period behind Ellis and Ronnie Chambers. Both canned eight points during the strecth. The Bulldogs cut the Jackets first break lead from17 points to10 when the buzzer went off at halftime. "we turned the ball over nine times in the second quarter" Clendinen said. "of course we had a talk about that at the half".

Marianna dropped in a pair of free throws of the hand of Marvin Harvey to open the third stanza. Bo Peeples countered for the Jackets with a jumper. The remaining seven and a half minutes was a see-saw affair. But the Bulldogs pulled within seven points at the 2:28 mark before two baskets, one each by Peeples and Chatman upped the Yellow Jackets margin to eleven 50-39 as the quarter concluded.

'There were times in the second half that we had a mental lapse,' commented Clendinen. "But we never let the game get out of hand and that's the sign of a true champion, "I thought Marianna showed a lot class when they came close and then pulled away. They lost but they never quit."

Leesburg outscored the Bulldogs by a 21-12 count in the final period Both coaches went to their bench late when it was evident the Jackets had the title in the bag.

"We're just not used to that kind of defensive pressure", said Marianna Coach Andy Free "Leesburg never lets down. They looked strong in the last period as they did in the first."

Randolph Farrior led the winners in the final stanza with seven points. He ended the game with 11.

But these kids aren't 30 years old and they still have a thing or two to learn, I'm just glad they were able to hold everything together the rest of the way, Marianna played well after the first period and I think they showed what kind of people they have by not giving up. They kept coming back at us even though we had them down by a pretty good spread"

Ed Chatman scored eight points during the opening expansion and finished the contest with a game high 23 . Bo Peeples, who turned in a brillant defensive effort, found the range for the first time during the last two weeks, pumping in 21.

Ed Chatman scored eight points during the opening expansion and finished the contest with a game high 23. Bo Peeples, who turned in a brilliant defensive effort, found the range for the first time during the last two weeks, pumping in 21.

"I see that my team captains led us in scoring tonight," added Clendinen. Both of them displayed great leadership all season. They picked a good way to finish their high school careers."

Eddie Ellis, the Bulldogs fine outside shooter and probably the teams best player, summed up the feeling's of Marianna about the Jackets in two sentences "They have the best high school basketball team I have ever seen I think they could beat everyone in the state." Ellis paced the losers with 14 points.

Marianna did mount a mild comeback in the second period behind Ellis and Ronnie Chambers. Both canned eight points during the stretch

Chatman, who would be a cinch for the tournament's most valuable player regardless of class if they voted one, controlled the backboards as if he owned them by pulling down 22. The Jackets' Johnny Williams claimed as many off the glass as the Bulldogs leader, Marvin Harvey, Both had eight.

Mathis Walker was the game's assist leader with seven, Walker, who is the Jackets only returning starter played a super defensive game and quarterback the Leesburg offense well both when Clendinen's charges were racing down the court and when they went into their famed four corner set up. The 5'9" marvel has to be rated with the best point guards in the state perhaps being the finest of the lot. "Leesburg didn't seem to have any weakness at all," added Coach Free. They're quick at every position and they have the right attitude that is needed to play that kind of defense. Its very hard to knock them off balance with that kid Walker controlling things. He's a super ball handler,"  The Yellow Jackets shot well from the field as they chalked up a better than average 54 percent.

Turnovers were even, both clubs committing 13. But the rebound figure was all Leesburg as Chatman and company held a wide 40-25 margin. The Jackets displayed poise at the charity stripe, hitting 19 of 24 attempts while the bulldogs dropped in 7 of 12. That's a 12 point difference which certainly was a factor in the outcome.

In other tournament finals Boone outquicked favored Deland 73-68. The Braves used tactics similar to the one's Leesburg used during the regular season to defeat Deland.

Boone entered the final period 10 points up, but the Bulldogs rallied with 16 points during the eight minute strecth. That wasn't good enough as the Braves fired in 12 straight free throws in the final 1:30 to insure the Orlando School history.

Pernell Tookes scored 28 points for the victors while Oliver Lee hit 32 for Deland.

In the afternoon title games, Pahokee defeated defending AA champions Clearwater Central Catholic 79-76 behind the 32 point performance of James Borroughs. Carl Cramb countered for the Marauders with 25 but a 19 points third quarter for the Blue Devils proved to be the difference.

Malone routed Coral Gables Deerborne in the Class A final 65-60. The Tigers were in control all the way after jumping out to an 18-12 first stanza lead. Malone was paced by Amos Wallace who canned 22 points. Coach Marvin Lassiters club had four players in double figures.

Marianna 6-20-13-12-51
Leesburg 23-13-14-21-71

Marianna-Ellis 6-2-14; Page 2-0-4; Harvey 5-3-12; Chamber 3-2-8; Thomas 5-0-10; Jones 1-0-2; Totals 22-7-51

Leesburg Walker 2-0-4; Peeples 9-3-21; Chatman 9-5-23; Williams 3-2-8; Janeczek 0-2-2; Legons 0-2-2

Totals 26-19-17

Fouls Marianna 17, Leesburg 14

Bo Peeples: "Its a dream come true. Some us have been getting ready for this for six years, I don't think Marianna was as sound as Jesuit."

Johnny "Snap" Williams: "I feel good. We were ready. We had to play good defense again. They came better than I thought Jesuit did."

Ed Chatman: "I think this was my best game all year both offensively and defensively. Its wonderful to end my high school career with a state championship. I think it was meant for us to win because we worked so hard. Nothing would make me unhappy right now".

Mathis Walker: "I feel very proud of the whole team. We knew we had a chance to win it when the season started. I don't think any team in the state is as tough as we are."

Randolf Farrior: It feels great to me. We got knocked out of it last year but this year it's different. Marianna played tough because they never gave up. I respect them for that."

Frank Janeczek: "I can't describe how great it feels to win the state championship. Its wonderful"

Wayne Taylor: It feels good to be on the team even though I didn't play much this season.

Resources
Mel BarlowSports Editor
Daily Commercial
Monday March 14, 1977