Reserves Jumpstart Hayfield, Propel Hawks into Semi-Finals

    Hayfield Boys Varsity returned to the hardwood Friday night, seeded #1 in the conference championships, looking to get back to the finals for the second straight year. Their first test came with a first round match-up vs. the Highlanders of McLean HS. The Highlanders had set the tone earlier this year, by double teaming the Hawks center; Eliet Donley. In the previous game, the Hawks received a balanced scoring attack to win that game easily. This time however, seemed at first to be a different story.

    Hayfield started slowly at both ends, allowing their opponents to open up a 6 point (7-1) lead early in the contest. Slowly but surely, the Hawks responded, and at the end of 8 minutes, they trailed 12-8. This game seemed to shaping up into a low scoring affair, especially with Donley saddled with two early fouls. Ironically, this galvanized the Hawks, and they took flight, soaring to score 26 points in the second quarter. The Hawks defense began to exert its pressure, as they amassed steal after steal (24 in all), leading to several easy baskets, including a 5 point swing pulled off by reserve PG Kyle Phox (7pts, 2rebs, 3asts, 3stls), who broke away for a fast break basket late in the second quarter, then regained possession on McLean’s inbound pass, and swished a three pointer as time expired, putting Hayfield up 10 at the half. In all, the Hawks outscored McLean 26-12 in the second quarter.

    It was in the third quarter, where Hayfield put them game out of reach. In a bizarre twist of fate, SF Kelsey McCrimmon started the third quarter, which turned out to be a boon for the Hawks, as McCrimmon turned in a quarter for the ages. McCrimmon (16pts, 6rebs, 4stls, 1blk) was everywhere, snagging rebounds at both ends of the floor, deflecting balls, intercepting passes, and hitting clutch three pointers from all over the court. Over those 8 minutes, McCrimmon outscored Mclean by 7 points (16 – 9) himself, and helped extend the home team’s lead to 22 points. In the fourth, Hayfield’s bench brought home the win, 70-51 (Hayfield’s 12^th victory in a row; new team record under Coach Poindexter).

    McCrimmon was joined in double figures by SF Tyler Hodge (15pts, 4rebs, 4stls, 2asts), who had another solid game, tallying his 15^th double figures game of the year. Overall, the bench scored 45 of the Hawks 70 total points, including PF Jeremy Jones (7pts, 3rebs, 2blks) who helped spell Donley during his foul trouble, including a sweeping up and under lefty finger roll, “and one” capping off the three point play. In the fourth quarter, the Hawks emptied the bench, for a glimpse at next year’s squad. PG Will Douglas (1pt, 1stl, 1ast) gave the crowd a taste of his defensive prowess, while PF/C Corey McGhee (4pts, 6rebs, 2blks) tied for the team lead with 4 offensive rebounds. SG Romaine Oakley (3pts, 2rebs, 3asts, 1stl) thrilled the crowd when he swished his 7^th “3 ball” of the year, and dished off three sweet assists.  SF Brian Cobbs (5pts, 1stl) also connected from downtown, for his 6^th of the season, while SF/PF Aaron Jeter (2rebs, 1stl) snared 2 of the Hawks 19 offensive rebounds. Recently called up from JV, Cameron Wilkerson and Terrell Wheeler saw their first varsity action. Wilkerson (2pts, 2rebs) scored his first varsity basket, while Wheeler played intense “on-the-ball” defense in the closing minutes.

   Notable facts: PG Daquan Poindexter (4pts, 3rebs, 7asts, 3stls) recorded 7 assists, for his second highest total of the season, and pushed his season total to 95. With his 7 points, Kyle Phox now has 100 pts on the season, making him the 8^th member of the team to break the century mark in points this season. Jeremy Jones recorded his first drawn charge this year. SF Muharrim Haque moved to within two offensive rebounds (4 in game, 56 for the season) of the team lead (Thomas has 58). At the 6:30 mark of the second quarter, Hayfield took its first lead (16-14). From then on, Hayfield outscored McLean 54 – 37, including one stretch of 39 points in approximately 13 minutes.

Pts. Scored By: Poindexter (4), Phox (7), McCrimmon (16), Hodge (15), Jones (7), Oakley (3), Donley (1), Haque (4), Douglas (1), Thomas (1), Cobbs (5), Jeter (0), McGhee (4), Wheeler (0), Wilkerson (2)