Lakeland rebounds with guards

Staff

Published Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Photo by Andrew Giermak

Lakeland senior David Barnes glides toward the hoop for a bucket during the first half of the Cavaliers’ 66-48 win over Ocean Lakes on Tuesday. Barnes had 18 points, six steals and five assists as Lakeland moved to a 7-2 record.

Lakeland’s boys basketball team rebounded from cold shooting and a loss on Monday night against Battlefield to finish the Lakeland Christmas Classic with a 66-48 win over Ocean Lakes on Tuesday afternoon.

Substitute guard C.J. Grissom sparked the Cavaliers with 19 points and the three-point shooting of Justin Watson and David Barnes combined for eight three-pointers.

The opening minutes of play on Tuesday looked like Lakeland’s struggles might continue. Ocean Lakes took an 8-0 lead before a timeout called by Lakeland head coach James Jones.

“I thought they might need to get a little more motivation,” said Jones. “We had no pattern to our offense or intensity to our defense.”

Watson’s long-range shooting was the first thing to get the Cavaliers going. He made two from the same spot in the left corner, then a third from the right wing to cut the Dolphin lead to 12-11.

Barnes and Grissom took control of both ends of the court for much of the second period.

A three by Barnes, immediately followed by a steal at midcourt and a breakaway lay-in, put Lakeland ahead 23-21 with 6:44 to go in the half.

A sequence of plays by Barnes and Grissom pushed Lakeland’s lead in the closing two minutes of the half.

A steal by Barnes led to a Cavalier break and a short jumper by Grissom. Then another steal by the 5-foot-8 Barnes led to his own lay-up, putting Lakeland up 35-26.

A trey by Barnes made it 38-28 with 0:49 left, but there was still time for another steal by Barnes and his outlet pass led Grissom to a lay-up. Grissom, also a 5-foot-8 guard, finished the half’s scoring with a drive and scoop shot in the paint with a couple seconds left. Lakeland led 42-31 at the break. Barnes had 15 points, five steals and five assists by halftime. Grissom added 12 points.

The Cavaliers kept rolling early in the second half, building their lead to 51-33. The Dolphins cut the margin to 11 with 1:41 left in the third period, but that was as close as the visitors got the rest of the way.

Lakeland finished with a 23-8 turnover advantage and 9 of 19 three-point shooting. Grissom’s 19 points led all scorers. Barnes finished with 18 points and six steals. Watson had 15 points, all on three-pointers. Justin Kee led Lakeland with seven rebounds.

“It’s no secret we’re a perimeter-oriented team,” said Jones, “our three guards will do the bulk of our scoring, so we sort of live and die with the night they’re having.”

“C.J. had an excellent game. We’ve been working with him to be patient and explosive. We’ve been trying to get him to see that that’s his game because he has the skill level.”

Lakeland (7-2, 6-0) will face city rival, and fellow undefeated team in the Southeastern District, King’s Fork (9-1, 6-0) on Tuesday at King’s Fork.

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