MABEN — The West Lowndes High School boys basketball team tried to use its quickness to overcome Aberdeen”s height advantage Thursday night in the West Oktibbeha County High School Christmas Classic.
West Lowndes coach Roosevelt Bridges, however, found you can”t coach height, as Aberdeen opened with an 11-0 run and went on to a 78-64 victory.
The win gave Aberdeen the sweep of West Lowndes, as the Lady Bulldogs earned a 62-38 decision against the Lady Panthers in the tournament”s opening game.
The Christmas Classic continues tonight and Saturday night with four games each.
Bridges was pleased with his squad”s effort against a taller opponent.
“We played good ball,” he said. “We just ran out of steam.”
Aberdeen coach Roy Hazzle also praised his squad, which maintained control despite a 29-point output by West Lowndes sharpshooter Tyquan Lucious.
“We are blessed to have won this game,” Hazzle said. “We had to find some way to nullify their quickness.”
Aberdeen center Earnest Williams (18 points) was the key to his team”s height advantage.
“This is his year to come out because he is coachable,” Hazzle said. “This is his third year on the team, but it is the first year he has been working as a team player and listening to the coaches.”
Aberdeen used the 11-0 run to grab a 24-9 lead after the first quarter. But West Lowndes used a run of its own after Aberdeen went to a smaller lineup. The switch allowed the Panthers to use 3-pointers and free throws to cut the deficit to 39-33 at intermission.
“You are going to have runs,” Hazzle said. “It”s how you react to them that makes a difference. … I think the boys really worked hard.”
West Lowndes started the second half with more ball movement and a pressing defense, but Aberdeen relied on its height advantage to keep the lead.
Fred Ward (16 points) also scored in double figures for Aberdeen, while Jeremy Roberts and Jalen Bell each had nine points.
Antonio Wilson had 14 points, followed by Brandon Clark (13) for West Lowndes.
GIRLS
Aberdeen 62, West Lowndes 38
The Lady Bulldogs (2-5) pushed three players into double figures to take control of the initial offering of the Christmas Classic.
Regina Barker had 10 of her 23 points in the second quarter to lead Aberdeen. Raven Love added 12 points, followed by Rachel Garth with 10.
West Lowndes fell to 4-4 on the season.
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