Hawks Victorious in Conference Championship, Clip Rebels by 2!

    The Boys Varsity Basketball team returned to the site of last season’s heartbreaking one point defeat, and fought their way through to win it all this year. After completing a perfect 7-0 conference record this season, the Hawks won three games in the past 6 days (without any practice), to capture their first conference championship in 10 years.

    This game was a typical Hayfield vs.Fairfax contest; going down to the wire. In two games vs. Fairfax this season, the total winning margin has been 3 points. In this game, it took a last minute steal, and subsequent off balance drive and score by Tyler Hodge (11pts, 7rebs, 2asts, 2stls) to create the winning margin. The Hawks then had to withstand one last flurry by the Rebels, who had a chance to tie with less than 5 seconds left (at the line), and then hold their collective breaths, as the Rebels just missed from 26 feet (which would have won the game). In the end though, the Hawks found a way again to keep their winning streak alive (now at 14 straight), and win their first Liberty Conference crown!

    Hayfield was paced by Conference Player of the Year, and Conference Tournament MVP, Eliet Donley (14pts, 14rebs, 4blks, 5asts) who played his best game of the Conference Championships. Donley, slightly under the weather the past few days, found some extra reserves tonight, and dominated the defensive glass (11 of his 14 on that end), limiting the Rebels chances to seize control throughout the game. Even with his great overall effort, it took some timely shooting, and Hodge’s steal at the end to preserve the victory.

   Fairfax, down 10 points (37-27) at halftime, made a furious rally in the third, totaling dominating the Hawks during a 13-2 run over the first 5:30 of the third quarter, to take a 1 point lead (40-39), and ended up outscoring Hayfield 17-5 in the quarter. Hayfield, down two points (44-42) to begin the 4^th, then regained their composure, and began to find their game again. Key three pointers by Kelsey McCrimmon (10pts, 7rebs, 1blk) and Jeremy Jones (5pts, 2rebs, 1stl, 1blk), coupled with timely defense in the 4^th (limiting the Rebels to 10 points over the final 8 minutes), brought the game to a tie with 1:40  remaining.  That’s when Hodge stepped up, and employed blanket coverage on his opponent, deflecting the ball, and then outracing the trailing Rebels for his go ahead lay-up.

   Key contributions included: PG Daquan Poindexter (6pts, 3asts, 2stls), who played through a bruised quad, sank two first half threes. Reserve PG Kyle Phox (2pts, 5stls), has continued to harass ball handlers throughout this tournament. SF Muharrim Haque (2pts, 4rebs) had another key offensive rebound for a score tonight. Haque also played spirited defense on one of the Rebels best players. PF Dalon Thomas (6pts, 4rebs) added to his team lead in both offensive and total rebounding, and converted two key lay-ups in the victory. SF Aaron Jeter, came in to provide smothering perimeter defense during the game.

   Hayfield returns to the hardwood in two days (Thursday, 2/26/15), for the first round of the North Regionals.

Pts. Scored By: Poindexter (6), Phox (2), McCrimmon (10), Hodge (11), Jones (5), Oakley (dnp), Donley (14), Haque (2), Douglas (dnp), Thomas (6), Cobbs (dnp), Jeter (0), McGhee (dnp), Wheeler (dnp), Wilkerson (dnp)