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.
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Mel BarlowSports Editor
Daily Commercial
Monday March 14, 1977
