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
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