The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial
Lakewood’s been known to spread the ball while winning its first six Moore League games this season, as different guys tend to contribute each night. But in an undefeated matchup for first place in league on Friday night, it took the Lancer’s just two players to take over the game against visiting Long Beach Poly.
After Lakewood came out of the half leading by two, Anthony Williams and Keaton Lewis completely stole all of the momentum, combining for 30-straight Lancer points in the second half to give Lakewood enough cushion to walk away with a 66-60 victory over Poly.
“(Williams) did his job tonight, he’s the guy that came back this year with the most experience so he was doing what he was supposed to do,” said Lakewood coach Duane Cooper. “He and (Lewis) are leading us and we’re just making sure we play well. The ball is gonna find its energy and Lewis and WIlliams had that energy tonight so they ended up with the ball often and made plays for us.”
Williams finished with a team-high 21-points alongside Lewis’s 20-points. It felt like just about every shot fell for the pair while they threw the team on their back in the second half.
“Honestly, it felt like a hot potato game,” said Lewis. “We were just knocking down shots back and forth.”
“It’s that chemistry,” added Williams. “Me and him have been hooping for a minute with AAU and all that. So I just know my personnel and who to pass it to, so when I drive and kick it out I go to his side and I’m looking for him to shoot.”
After Poly found themselves down 10 points because of a 12-4 Lakewood run to open up the third quarter, the Jackrabbits were able to immediately respond with a 13-3 run of their own. The two teams found themselves tied 49-49 heading into the fourth quarter.
Poly’s Jovani Ruff started the fourth quarter with a layup to give the Jackrabbits their first lead since the second quarter. He finished with a game-high 24 points.
However, Williams immediately responded with back-to-back buckets to recapture the lead for the Lancers as the two teams continued to battle back-and-forth.
Lakewood kept their lead for the rest of the fourth quarter, as Williams fed Lewis an assist for a dagger three on the wing to all-but ended it for Lakewood. Kecederic Dockery went on to make six game-icing free throws, and the only non-Williams/Lewis points of the half for the Lancers.
Poly’s Geovanni Okegbo’s chipped in a key 14 points. The Jackrabbits will hope for a Lakewood loss in the final swing of Moore League play. The Jackrabbits take on Wilson on Wednesday.
As for Lakewood, Friday’s win keeps them undefeated in the Moore League through the first stretch of league play. They control their own destiny in a search for the teams first Moore League Championship in twenty years.
Despite the teams’ accomplishing win, Cooper had the same old response as his team prepares for another round of league games starting with Millikan on Wednesday.
“The games that we played already are behind and the next game is gonna be the next one,” said Cooper. “We need to go 1-0 on Wednesday.”
