Hawks Dominate Patriots, Host Langley in Semi’s

      The Boys Varsity had one goal tonight; defeat their arch rival, the Patriots of Yorktown HS. Last season, the Patriots had the Hawks number, beating them twice during the regular season. This year, has been a complete role reversal. The Hawks have owned the Patriots, twice defeating them by 29 and 43 respectively. In each game, the Hawks have stopped the Patriots vaunted attack, not allowing them any continuity on offense. While the first game featured the Hawks jumping out to an early 20 point lead, this time it took a little longer, however the end result was the same; the Hawks winning going away.

      There were many heroes tonight, some not the usual suspects. PF Dalon Thomas (11pts, 3rebs, 1ast, 1stl) who had been struggling to find his niche in the Hawks plan of attack, was able to establish himself on the low block in the first quarter, scoring 8 of the Hawks 17 in the first quarter. Thomas set the tone for the first half, pound the ball down low. C Eliet Donley (17pts, 14rebs, 2blks) took up the mantle in the 2^nd quarter, scoring 9 of his game high 17pts. Donley was ultra effective from the stripe as well, where he converted 90% on the night (9-10). Overall, the Hawks went to the line 39 times (a season high), converting 28 (71%).

     The Varsity Hawks had a “slim” 11 point lead at the half (31-20), in what seemed to become a challenging hard fought game in the second half. Instead, the Hawks exploded for 48 points in the last two quarters, including a whopping 30 in the final period. SG Phil Guydon (8pts, 3rebs, 1ast, 1stl) connected from downtown twice in the third, to help the Hawks pull away, scoring 7 of the Hawks 18 in the 3^rd quarter. SF Amir Atkins (8pts, 4rebs) had two key layups as well, as the Hawks doubled up the Patriots in the third quarter (18-9), to open up a commanding 20 point lead.

     Usually when a team has a large lead heading into the 4^th, substitutions are made, and the scoring slows down. Tonight was not one of those nights. All of the Hawks coming into the game were fired up, and made immediate impacts. Prior to their entry, the Hawks starting PG Tyler Thornton (10pts, 2rebs, 4asts, 2stls) had to make his mark. After guiding the team efficiently all evening, Thornton saved his best for last, leaping high for an offensive rebound, and laying it back in to cap off his evening. Reserve PF Montez Wilson (4pts, 3rebs, 3blks) had a monster rejection, as well as 3 key rebounds. SF Kelsey McCrimmon (6pts, 1ast, 1stl) dropped two bombs from downtown, to aid the offensive barrage. PF Jeremy Jones (4pts, 3rebs, 1blk), a recent call up from JV, leaped high to thoroughly reject a Patriot would be basket. His best play however, was the one handed tomahawk dunk on an offensive rebound with less than 3 minutes in the 4^th quarter. That brought his teammates, and the crowd, to their feet, celebrating the play and the Hawks first playoff victory in 3 years.

    Other contributions included: the Hawks other call up, Aaron Jeter (2pts) scored his first two points of his varsity career. SG Faris Gebril (3pts, 1stl) shook off a sprained ankle, scoring 3 of 4 from the line. PG Daquan Poindexter (6pts, 2rebs, 2stls, 1ast) flushed a three from the corner, and crossed up the Patriots reserve guards routinely, defeating their press several times off the dribble. On one possession, Poindexter broke a double team, and then hit a pretty floater down the middle of the key. Next up, Langley HS, for the high flying Hawks.