Kecoughtan Ends Heritages Streak
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"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The Kecoughtan Warriors were
all smiles on Senior Night as they remained in first place in the Peninsula
District, breaking open a close game at the half in a 61-47 victory over the
Heritage Hurricanes. It moves
class=SpellE>Kecoughtan's record to 16-3 overall, 14-1 in league play.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Leading the way for the host Warriors was the terrific
tandem of Providence signee and 6-foot-7 forward
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Rajay Bullock and 6-foot-5 swingman Greg
Alexander (East Carolina signee). If
it wasn't one hurting Heritage, it was the other.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The highly skilled Bullock recorded 29 points, 16
rebounds and four blocks. Only a couple
minutes into the third quarter, he had scored 23 points and appeared headed for
a 40-point night. Rajay
also made all eight of his free-throw attempts.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"We needed this win to stay in [first] place because we
know if we lose one more game we'll be tied up with Hampton," Bullock stated
afterwards. "I think we're more focused
this year, know what's going on and we're trying to win this.
style=> I feel a lot more confident than last
year. I feel like I can do a lot more."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Alexander, celebrating being named Homecoming King, had
19 points playing the Robin to Bullock's Batman.
style=> A reserve on last year's team that made a
meteoric rise towards the end of his junior season and into the off-season,
Alexander caught fire in the third quarter with 10 points, showing off a sweet
touch from the outside and the ability to knock down the mid-range jumper.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"It feels good, but if we had lost this would've
spoiled this whole thing. I wouldn't
take be taking any pictures or anything," Alexander admitted.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"Every game means a lot.
style=> Of course with this being Senior Night and
them on a long winning streak, it really meant a lot to get this win."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Early on, Heritage made it a ballgame, despite
committing 14 first turnovers against a Warriors team that was able to
effectively trap and apply pressure as well as keep the Canes out of the lane
when they needed to by using a 2-3 zone.
In fact, Heritage even took a brief lead with 1:59 to go in the second
quarter on a free-throw by sophomore Romello Anderson.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Like they did to end the first quarter with a pair of
steals from sophomore point guard Marcell
class=SpellE>Haskett, Kecoughtan was able
to generate points off turnovers with Bullock, Haskett
and Lawrence Williams to take a
29-27 lead into the half.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Heritage came in riding a seven-game winning streak,
longest in the Eastern Region.
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Mike Gardner's team stayed close by not
attempting too many ill-advised 3's and contesting the Warriors' outside
shooters. They've earned the respect of
class=SpellE>Kecoughtan Head Basketball Coach Ivan Thomas, who believes they will be a pesky out come tournament
time.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"This is a team I don't think you want to play in the
playoffs. This team got better, a lot
better," Thomas went on to say. "Towards
the end of the game, I think our guys dug a little deep and they expended a lot
of energy early to maintain, but we caught up with them, made shots, and Rodney
Bullock and Greg Alexander are pretty good."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Role players made their presence felt for
class=SpellE>Kecoughtan once again, even without scoring a lot.
style=> With an assistant coach from Virginia
Wesleyan watching him closely, 6-foot-6 senior forward/center
class=SpellE>Kaelin
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Poe grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked
four shots.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>In general, Thomas was pleased with the entire
supporting cast, particularly highlighting Nick
Carrera and Justin Lipscomb with
their rebounding, hustle and defense.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"We've got a lot of unsung guys," he noted.
style=> "Whenever it's their chance or their moment,
they step up. We've got a lot of guys
giving unseen efforts that don't necessarily show up in the box scores, but
show up in terms of allowing Greg to get open, Rajay
or Poe to take a blow on the defensive end because they're defending and
rebounding."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>When the defense concentrated on Bullock in the third
quarter, that's when Alexander struck, pushing the lead from eight to
double-figures with six straight points.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"Coach always tells me to keep shooting.
style=> Shooters keep shooting.
style=> That's what I did," Alexander added.
style=> "I trusted my teammates, we got the big man
the ball and Rajay did what he always does.
style=> He attracts so much attention, so that leaves
shooters open and the guards can get to the basket."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The Warriors' matchup at Hampton on Tuesday could
settle the PD regular season title and #1 seed for the regional tourney.
style=> If Kecoughtan wins,
they should win their first district crown since 1991-92.
style=> Meanwhile, a Hampton victory would force a
tie-breaker game, likely to be played that Friday to determine to the automatic
berth to the region dance.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"The message has always been the same and it's not any
different. We've got a program, want to
continue to try to get better as the season goes on and last year was last
year. Hampton is a very good team and it's
not as if we didn't compete with them every game.
style=> It's not as if we weren't one of the last
four teams playing in the semifinals for the state title," Thomas said.
style=>
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"We're right back here again and I think the difference
is we have a lot more guys that understand their roles and understand the
system. We feel good about ourselves and
expect a dogfight towards the end and wouldn't expect anything else in the
Peninsula District."
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
href="http://www.facebook.com/mobileprotection?source=mobile_mirror_nux#!/media/set/?set=a.498821126820787.95901.100000787114156&type=1">Rod
Johnson's Photo Feature on Facebook
class=SpellE>Kecoughtan Coach Ivan Thomas
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
Stats:
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Kecoughtan
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> 61:
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
Rajay Bullock - - 29Pts. 10-21FG, 8-8FT, 16Reb. 4Blk.
3Stl.
Greg Alexander - - 19Pts. 6-15FG, 6-7FT, 2Ast. 2Blk.
Marcell Haskett - - 8Pts.
3-4FG, 3Reb. 4Ast. 4Stl.
Kaelin Poe - - 4Pts. 2-7FG, 12Reb. 4Blk.
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Heritage
47:
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
Romello Anderson - - 13Pts. 6-12FG, 3Reb. 2Blk
class=GramE>.
Marcus Van Hook - - 11Pts. 5-8FG, 3Stl.
Troy Gibson - - 8Pts. 4-14FG, 5Reb.
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-decoration:none;text-underline:
none'>Matthew Hatfield
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>
serves as State Basketball Analyst for
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Network. Check out
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