Hawks Get a Lucky Bounce, Dodge Majors By One

    The Hayfield Boys Varsity narrowly escaped Friday night’s game with a one point victory over their crosstown rivals; the Majors of Mt. Vernon. After thoroughly out playing the Majors in the 1^st quarter, leading 21-7, the Hawks inexplicably went into cruise control, while the Majors ramped up their game. The Majors outscored the Hawks 45-32 over the next 24 minutes, falling just short in last few seconds, when one of their players just missed a bank shot, while he was “sitting” on the floor.

   With 11.7 seconds remaining, the Majors inbounded the ball, and attempted to set up their winning shot. The ball was deflected by the Hawks, and a scrum ensued, where it seemed that the Hawks center, Eliet Donley (17pts, 6rebs, 4blks, 8dflctns) had tied up the ball. A Majors player, however, secured the ball, and lofted a last second shot from the floor. It hit the backboard, then hung agonizingly on the rim for a split second, only to fall off, sealing the victory for Hayfield, who moved to 5-8 on the season.

    One of the keys to the victory from the Hayfield pre-game plan was to control the boards. On Friday night, the Hawks did just that, limiting the Majors to 7 offensive rebounds, while gathering in 24 offensive rebounds themselves. Had the Hawks been able to convert those chances into points, the score would have been vastly different. The Hawks were led in rebounding by PF Dalon Thomas (7pts, 15rebs, 4chrgs), who snagged 9 offensive rebounds himself, and increased his drawn charges total to 20 for this season, and 39 for his career (in his 3^rd varsity season). Along with Donley, the Hawks received another double digit scoring game from SF Tyler Hodge (13pts, 4rebs), who shot 100% from the floor (4 for 4). Hodge is averaging 13.5pts/game over the past 8 games, and has become one of the Hawks regular scoring threats. Hodge is also leading the team in 3pt shooting (40%).

Other contributions included: PF Jeremy Jones (7pts, 2rebs, 1blk) came off the bench to hit a much needed three pointer, and led the bench scoring (7 of the 12 bench points). PG Kyle Phox (3pts, 7rebs, 2asts) was factor on the offensive boards, grabbing 6 Friday night. SF Kelsey McCrimmon (4rebs, 2asts, 2blks) had a quiet night scoring, but used his length to swat away 2 would be Majors’ baskets. Muharrim Haque (4pts, 8rebs, 3asts) stuggled from the floor, but hit two clutch free throws down the stretch, while SG Brian Cobbs (2pts, 2rebs, 2asts) had another solid game in limited minutes.

   PG Daquan Poindexter (4asts, 2stls, 6dflctns) has one of the prettiest passes of the season, when he drove the basket, and then hit Donley with a right handed behind the back pass in traffic, which led to the Hawks winning margin. Donley was not able to convert the “and one”, but did hit the deciding free throw, giving the Hawks their 53-52 lead, which in the end, was just enough.

Pts. Scored By: Poindexter (0), Phox (3), McCrimmon (0), Hodge (13), Jones (7), Oakley (0), Donley (17), Haque (4), Douglas (0), Thomas (7), Cobbs (2), Jeter (IR), McGhee (0),