Patriots come from 16 down to beat Knights

Staff

Published Thursday, January 25, 2001

Sports Writer

Pike Liberal Arts boys basketball coach Jim Bohanan made a simple switch midway through the second quarter against Macon East with his team trailing 22-6.

"I took my team out of our game plan," Bohanan said. "We normally trap at the very beginning of the game and I decided not to trap and our team just doesn't play well unless they are moving and trapping and running. We decided to go back to our trap and if you notice, once we went to the trap, we took control of the ball game."

The Patriots held the Knights to 26 points the rest of the way and BJ Powell picked up the scoring slack, scoring 27 points to lead PLAS to a 60-48 win over Macon East Tuesday night at PLAS.

Macon East used a 19-0 run midway through the second quarter to jump out to a 22-6 lead, but PLAS answered with a 17-4 run to end the half and cut the Knight lead to 26-23.

"The defensive pressure created about a 16-0 run in the second and third quarters," Bohanan said. "Plus you just have to get your kids fired up and tell them nobody comes into our house and beats us, it just can't happen, so a lot of credit to them."

Powell opened the second half by nailing a three-pointer to tie the game and the Patriots never looked back. Powell scored nine points in the third quarter, including a jumper at the buzzer to give PLAS a 44-38 lead.

PLAS was never threatened in the fourth quarter as Powell sank seven free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Bohanan said the defensive pressure and the big runs were the key.

"If you talk to great coaches, they will tell you, defense wins ball games. We told our guys, take a gut check, get in your defense, cause turnovers, make lay-ups, take good shots and rebound."

"If you notice, once we started a run, fortunately we were at home, normally if you start a run at home, it continues, unlike at an away game," Bohanan added. "Normally, if you are a visitor, you will do about a 10 point run and it will stop. Being home, obviously your adrenaline is pumping and I think we were down 22-6 and we were able to get it to 26-23 at half."

Layton Sanders and Jeremy Henderson added eight points a piece for the Patriots.

Macon East rolled over PLAS in JV action, 43-16. Dustin Garrett and Alex Sanders lead the Patriots attack with four points.

MACON EAST 43, PLAS 39

Daneille Johnson's 13 points wasn't enough as the PLAS Lady Patriots were knocked off by Macon East 43-39 Tuesday night at PLAS.

"Last game we only scored 12 points against them, so we knew we had to shoot the ball better, which they did," PLAS head coach Robert Hawkins said. "I was real proud of them, they put forth a hard effort. The pressure at the end, we just didn't handle that very well."

The Lady Knights took a 28-16 halftime lead before PLAS rallied in the third quarter. PLAS held Macon East to five points in the quarter and Johnson scored five during the quarter to cut the lead to 33-29 heading into the final period.

Rae Pinckard's basket with 4:07 left in the game tied the game at 37, but Macon East went on a 6-2 run to end the game.

The Lady Patriots missed easy opportunities early, which Hawkins said was the key to the early deficit.

"We are not a real good shooting team so we have to put forth effort and hustle that much more and I think they did. I thought they played and did the best they could."

The PLAS Lady Patriots JV team routed Macon East 37-18 Tuesday. Brantley Kreis lead PLAS in scoring with 14 points.

 

 

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