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| 1/20/2010 11:35:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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JAMIE HARMS for Leader
McNeil’s Blair Williams goes up for a shot under pressure from Westwood’s Jeff Reed and Derek Nalodka. |
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Mavs pull away from pack with win
Win over Westwood moves McNeil into first-place in balanced District 16-5A
By MARK SWANSON
Special to the Leader
Someone may want to win District 16-5A after all.
For the first time, the most balanced boys basketball district in the area has started to show some separation among the seven teams - and McNeil may be the one pulling away. Its 61-52 win at Westwood Friday night moves the Mavericks into first place in the district at 4-1.
"We wanted to get to the free throw line and win on the boards," McNeil coach Darrell Hagemann said. "I thought we did that. We didn't shoot real well from the stripe like we have all year, but we at least got there a lot."
Much like the district this year, McNeil pulled away from Westwood methodically. An 11-2 run in the second quarter gave the Mavericks a significant first half lead and they held a 32-23 advantage at halftime. However, the Warriors, now 1-4 in district and desperately needing this game, put together a nice third-quarter run to make it a game.
Wade Swofford got the ball rolling with a three-pointer to make the score 38-32 with 4:23 left in the third quarter. Westwood then clamped down on defense and forced a series of McNeil turnovers that the Warriors turned into points. Finally, after three shots at taking the lead, Derek Nalodka gave Westwood the lead with a jumper. The 39-38 lead with 1:54 left was the first by the Warriors since the first quarter.
McNeil pushed back, though. Max Pepper found space under the basket for a layup to take back the lead on the next possession and Kenny Lewis hit a corner three as the buzzer sounded on the third quarter to take a 43-39 lead into the final period. There, the Maverick defense and poise took over.
A pair of baskets pushed the lead to 47-39, forcing Westwood to play high-pressure defense. McNeil handled that well and avoided turning the ball over too often, while getting to the line or getting easy buckets. The Warriors were unable to match that and eventually ran out of steam.
"I thought we answered well," Hagemann said. "We quit playing defense a little and I got away from that some, but I'm proud of how we fought back."
Williams led McNeil with 14 points and Damonte Jackson had 15 for Westwood.
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