High-Flying Hawks Soar Over Titans, Win 5^th in a row!

     Hayfield’s Boys Varsity Basketball team reached .500 for the first time this season, by defeating the Titans of TC Williams for their 5^th victory in a row. Their 5 game win streak matches their longest streak last season, and is their second longest since 2012-2013, when that Hawk squad won 11 straight games in Coach Poindexter’s first full season as head of Hayfield’s Boys Basketball program.

    Hayfield has gone 7-3 over their last ten game, after starting the season 1-5. Much of that early turmoil had to do with the team not being to find the right rhythm, and having their senior center Eliet Donley on IR with a broken hand. Since his return, the Hawks have found their rhythm and balance, and their record 5-1 in his 6 games reflects this. The Hawks have gained such confidence, especially learning how to play for long stretches without him. Yesterday vs. TC Williams, that confidence was revealed. Donley (20pts, 5rebs, 3blks) was saddled with early foul trouble, but this did not deter the Hawks from reeling of 25 points in the pivotal second quarter to capture the lead after 16 minutes.

   Leading by 6 at the half, and seemingly having the momentum, the Hawks seemed to lose the air beneath their wings for the first two minutes in the third, as TC pulled even with a 9-3 run. Hayfield regrouped however, as TC began to rack up the fouls, and run out of gas. Hayfield surged back to a seven point lead after three quarters. As the lead grew to double figures, TC began to put Hayfield on the line. At first it seemed to work for them as Hayfield missed 5 of 6 in one stretch, but TC was unable to cut much into the lead. Then their plan backfired, for the only person they could foul was Donley (10-11 from the stripe), and he converted his last 3, while Muharrim Haque (10pts, 8rebs, 2stls) spelled him at the line once, while he received treatment for a cut. Haque converted that free throw, to raise his season average to 82% (tops on the Hawks). In the end, the lead was too great, and the minutes too much for TC, falling to the Hawks by 13 points.

   Other contributions included: PG Daquan Poindexter (8pts, 4asts, 3stls), has achieved 4 or more assists for the 5^th straight game (not a coincidence that Hayfield has won all five). Hayfield in fact has dished out 94 assists (18.8/game) as a team during their win streak. SF Kelsey McCrimmon (10 pts, 6rebs, 3asts, 4stls) had another strong game, leading all players in steals, and reached double figures in points for the 7^th time this season. SF Tyler Hodge (13pts, 5rebs, 4asts) bounced back from his low point total of the season vs. Madison. PF Dalon Thomas (5pts, 9rebs, 2asts, 2chrgs) came off the bench to grab a team high 9 rebounds, and increased his drawn charges total to 22 on the season (team and career high).

Pts. Scored By: Poindexter (8), Phox (2), McCrimmon (10), Hodge (13), Jones (4), Oakley (0), Donley (20), Haque (10), Douglas (dnp), Thomas (10), Cobbs (0), Jeter (IR), McGhee (0),