Hayfield Keeps Soaring, defeats Patriot HS by 15

       Hayfield kept its regional hopes and its win streak (now 15 games) alive with a solid, if not spectacular effort in its 1^st round regional matchup versus Patriot HS, (Prince William County). The Hawks never trailed in this game, but by no means did they beat their opponent handily. Hayfield held a commanding 19-2 lead, with 1:30 remaining in the 1^st quarter, but could never really put the game out of reach. Patriot, unwilling to concede, kept making just enough shots to keep Hayfield uncomfortable, including one stretch in the 3^rd quarter, where they connected on 4 three pointers, trimming the Hayfield lead from 19 points, down to 9. Hayfield, with its starters returning, regained the momentum, making 4 straight stops, which essentially put the game out of reach, leading to the deciding margin of 15 points (71-56).

     Hayfield received a balanced effort yesterday, as three Hawks scored in double figures, and two others had 9 points apiece. Hayfield was led by SG Tyler Hodge (15pts, 9rebs, 3asts, 2stls), who led the Hawks with 6 in the first 8 minutes. Patriot really had no answer for Hodge, as he dominated the glass at both ends, and slashed to the hoop on several occasions, without opposition. SF Muharrim Haque (12pts, 4rebs) broke out of a shooting slump, doubling his season average, while swishing two of the Hawks four 3pt field goals. SF Kelsey McCrimmon (13pts, 6rebs, 3stls, 2asts) came off the bench to give Hayfield a needed boost, leading the Hawks with 5 points in the final quarter. Additionally, McCrimmon was brought on to stem the tide of Garrett Cook, the Patriots big threat, who scored 14 points (including 3 straight 3 pointers) in the third quarter, attempting to rally his team. After McCrimmon came in to defend him, he only scored 2 points the rest of the way. PG Daquan Poindexter (9pts, 4asts), kept the Hawks in an up-tempo mode at both ends of the court, throughout the game, and paced Hayfield with 5 of their twenty 3^rd quarter points. C Eliet Donley (9pts, 10rebs, 5blks, 3asts) thoroughly stymied Patriot’s post players, swatting away a game high 5 shots.

    Hayfield collectively set a 2014-2015 team record by connecting on their first 9 attempts from the free throw line (finishing 15-19, 79%). Other contributors included: PF Dalon Thomas (3pts, 4rebs, 4asts, 2chrgs), who added to his record charge total, now at 34 for the season. Thomas also had one of the prettiest ball fakes of the evening, when he faked that he was shooting a jump shot, but then found Donley down low for easy lay-up. Jr. SF Aaron Jeter gave us glimpse of next season, when he snagged a defensive rebound, drove the length of the floor, spun in the lane, ending with a high arcing floater for two. PG Kyle Phox (2pts, 2asts, 1stl), again displayed his talent of picking his opponents pocket, which he did early in the second quarter, leading to an easy fast break basket. Jr. SF Romaine Oakley (2pts) came in late in the 2^nd quarter, and wasted no time, as he drove baseline, making a tricky one handed floater, contributing to Hayfield’s second straight 19 point quarter. Jr. C Corey McGhee (2pts, 2rebs, 1blk), added an inside bucket, making him one of eight different Hawks to score in the 2^nd quarter. McGhee also tallied a block in the fourth, when he blocked a shot without leaving the hardwood, leading to a jump ball. PF Jeremy Jones (2pts), boosted his free throw percentage, by swishing his two chances in the 4^th quarter, raising his season avg. to 78% (3^rd on the team).

Pts. Scored By: Poindexter (9), Phox (2), McCrimmon (13), Hodge (15), Jones (2), Oakley (2), Donley (9), Haque (12), Douglas (0), Thomas (3), Cobbs (0), Jeter (2), McGhee (2), Wheeler (0), Wilkerson (0)