Southern Sports & Travel
For the fifth ranked Lamar Raiders it seemed as though they were more than ready to put the holidays behind them and focus on making a strong January run in preparation for the post season. It couldn’t have been more evident after the Raiders jumped all over Leake in the first quarter of last night’s nightcap in Meridian but what looked like the makings of a blowout transformed into a thrilling double overtime battle royal as Lamar held on to improve their season record to 11-4 with a 70-65 win.
Lamar junior Jorden Andrews and Leake senior Wesley Webb had an old fashion shoot out as both carried their squads throughout the matchup. Andrews led Lamar with 28 points but also was masterful in driving the lane and handing out assists while Leake’s Wesley Webb ripped six 3-pointers and totaled 35 points on the night as both seemed unstoppable.
(Above) Jorden Andrews (#5) of Lamar gets to the rim in the second half
Lamar exploded in the first quarter and set the tone quickly as Casey Key drained a 3-pointer from the wing just ten seconds into the game followed by a soft floater in the paint from Jorden Andrews to give the Raiders a 5-0 lead at the 6:47 mark.
A Wesley Webb jumper from the wing got Leake on the board on the ensuing possession but Lamar continued their torrid pace as Jorden Andrews scored three consecutive buckets to help build a 14-2 lead at the 3:00 mark. Leake drilled two 3-point baskets in the final two minutes to stem the Raider’s momentum and end the quarter down 16-7.
Lamar would grab their biggest lead at 22-7 as Andrews served up an assist to John Whittle and Andrews would sink a 17 foot jumper from the wing to start the second quarter. Andrews would dial up another assist to Jonathon Young at the 5:42 mark to give the Raiders a 15 point cushion.
Enter Leake’s Wesley Webb. The senior quickly scored six straight points, all on fast break transition buckets, to trim the deficit to 22-13 with 2:30 left in the half. With Lamar holding a ten point lead at 25-15 Webb torched the Raiders once again. Webb drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then converted on two free throw attempts with 45 seconds remaining to pull the Rebels to within five points at 25-20. After a Lamar free throw gave the Raiders a six point lead Webb would pull down an offensive rebound and score to cap a 15-4 Leake run to end the half with Lamar clinging to a 26-22 lead.
Both squads virtually matched baskets in a fast paced third quarter with Leake pulling to within one point at 32-31 on an Aaron Shepard offensive rebound and put back at the 4:01 mark but Lamar managed to stretch the advantage to 39-34 by the end of the third quarter.
Leake quickly cut the deficit to 39-38 on Austin Shepard’s lay-in and Alex Shepard’s baseline drive with less than a minute gone in the fourth quarter. The Rebels grabbed their first lead of the night at 44-43 at the 4:41 mark on Wesley Webb’s 3-pointer from the wing.
(Above) Wesley Webb (#10) of Leake gets two of his 16 first half points
Leake threatened to put the fifth ranked Raiders away with just over two minutes remaining in regulation and a ton of momentum as Aaron Shepard canned a 15 footer to put Leake up 47-43 but Lamar stormed back behind the solid floor direction of junior guard Jorden Andrews.
After Lamar’s Blane Morgan sank a floater in the paint to cut the lead to 47-45 Andrews served up a beautiful assist to Jonathan Young to knot things up at 47-47 with 55 seconds remaining.
Leake responded as Austin Shepard scored in the paint with 39 seconds left to put the Rebels back up at 49-47 in a wild fourth quarter. Leake would regain possession after a Lamar missed shot but the Rebels missed a golden opportunity as they failed to convert on the front end of a one and one at the free throw line.
Following a Lamar timeout with 17 seconds remaining the Raiders got a huge basket from an unsuspecting player as Barrett Dudley hit a driving basket in the paint with 6 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 49-49 and send the contest into overtime.
In the hotly contested four minute overtime period it was Lamar who appeared to be on the verge of sealing the deal as a Blane Morgan 3-pointer from the wing with 53 seconds showing on the clock gave Lamar a 56-53 lead.
After Alex Shepard’s driving bucket off the glass trimmed the Lamar lead to 56-55 Lamar gave themselves a little more cushion at 58-55 as Jonathan Young scored from inside with 26 seconds remaining but Leake senior Wesley Webb calmly found his spot on the wing and popped a long 3-pointer to tie the game at 58-58 and 17 seconds left in the first overtime period.
Lamar’s attempt to win it fell short at the buzzer sending the game into the second overtime period.
(Above) Lamar's Malik Lee (#31) soars over Leake's Aaron Shepard during the second half
Amazingly the lead would change hands six times in the second four minute overtime period but the critical moment came on a Barrett Dudley basket off a Leake turnover with 49 seconds left to give Lamar a 66-65 lead.
After a Leake missed shot Jorden Andrews iced the win on a hard driving lay-in at the rim, plus one, with 34 seconds remaining to give the Raiders a 69-65 lead.
Jonathan Young added a free throw at the 17 seconds mark to give Lamar a hard fought 70-65 double overtime home win.
“We can teach our kids how to pass and shoot but either you know how to win or you don’t,” said Lamar head coach Charles Shaffer. “I was very pleased with how well we started, we shot well and defended well but we hit a lull and Leake capitalized.”
Lamar was led by junior Jorden Andrews with 28 points. “Jordan makes us go,” said Shaffer. “He’s a very unselfish player and I’m very proud to see how he’s progressed.”
Blane Morgan added 12 points for the Raiders, Jonathan Young had 11, Malik Lee and Casey Key 5 apiece, Barrett Dudley 4, Trevor Boling 3 and John Whittle 2.
For Leake (12-6) Wesley Webb had a game high 35 points, including six 3’s, Alex Shepard added 13, Aaron Shepard 9 and Austin Shepard 8.
Lamar will travel to take on Sylva Bay on Thursday and Leake will host Copiah Friday.
.
