Team strengths, weaknesses come out during South tournament

By John Harden/sports editor

The Lakers, Poppers and team Black each obtained another win as South Campus continued its spring basketball league tournament Thursday.

Black versus Free Agents #1

Game one of the day paired up team Black and Free Agents #1. Black beat the Agents 83-52, pushing its record to 2-0 as of Thursday.

Black and Agents began the game apparently equally matched. Each team matched the other offensively point-for-point. Robert Lewis led team Black on offense, scoring 10 points in the first half. Teammate Kino Davidson assisted Lewis by scoring eight points in the first half. Agents’ Jay Williams and Bobby Morrow both helped to keep their team in the game by scoring eight and six points, respectively. The half ended with Black ahead, 35-25.

Agents’ Williams and Morrow both seemed to disappear as Black took a larger lead in the second half.

Three minutes into the half, Black began an 18-5 run over the Agents. Agents’ Robert Tinajero began to catch fire for his team, but it was too late. Black’s Davidson, Patrick Wyatt and David Lyons increased their offensive play extinguishing Tinajero‘s fire.

Davidson finished the second half gathering eight more points, increasing his total to 16. Wyatt finished the game with 13 points and 8 rebounds, and teammate Lyons ended with 12 points. Agents’ Tinajero finished with 16 points. 

Fort Worth Lakers versus Fort Worth Celtics

The Fort Worth Celtics faced off against the Fort Worth Lakers in game two. The Lakers, previously known as Know Names, defeated the Celtics, 51-44.

The Celtics and Lakers ran their offense and defense similarly.

Each team preferred playing man-on-man instead of passing. The style of play worked equally for both teams, but neither team seemed to achieve an advantage over the other. At the end of the half, the score was tied, 22-22.

Celtics’ Etheus Henderson helped his team by putting up six points for the half, and Jerome Birdow and Forest Robinson scored five and four points, respectively. Lakers’ Tory Woods had four rebounds and six points, and teammate Waguintince Kizzee aided Woods by scoring six points to close the half.

In the second half, the man-on-man offense and defense continued but began to hinder each team’s scoring.

As a result of the slow point production, the Lakers moved away from man-on-man and began to pass the ball more. Lakers’ Aquantis Davis led his team with assists, totaling seven for the half. Drew Miner had four.

The increased ball movement gave the Lakers the advantage, and the Celtics continued to play man-on-man offense against the Lakers zone defense.

The Lakers zone defense proved too much for the Celtics, who gained their second loss.

Woods finished with 13 points for the Lakers, and Kizzee and Davis contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Birdow led the Celtics with 13 points, and Henderson and Robinson each scored 12 points.

Poppers versus Free Agents #2

In the final game of the day, the Agents suffered a blowout to the Poppers, losing 83-39.

The Poppers gained control early in the game and never allowed the Agents to take a lead. In the first half, Poppers’ Jimmy Duffie played a big part in his team gaining the early lead.

In the first half, Duffie had six points and four steals. The Agents had a difficult time against the Poppers defense giving up several turnovers.

The Poppers would take advantage of the Agents’ lack of defense and offense and mount a commanding lead to end the half. Poppers’ Antonio Washington led his team in points, scoring 12 before the end of the half. The Poppers entered the second half leading, 37-12.

In the second half, the Poppers continued their offensive and defensive domination on the court. Frustration began to play a factor in the Agents loss as Agents’ player Kendrick Speed was ejected for showing disrespect to an official.

“He was telling me how to do my job,” said referee Rodney Fannin. “I got kids his age. Why should I argue with him? As a basketball player, you have to earn respect, but as a ref, I already have it, and they need to show me some.”

As the game continued, the Agents began to give up. The Poppers would go on to mount a 46-25 run to end the half. Poppers’ Donnavan Nelson ended the game and recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Washington led the Poppers with 18 points while Jamaal Brooks and Dewayne Holmes each scored 10. Agents’ Anthony Carter and P.J. Dennis contributed eight points each.

The tournament continues at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow on South Campus.