JACKETS STING CARDINALS

 Williamsburg didn’t have any trouble moving on to the second-round of the 13^th Region All “A” Classic with a 69-34 win over the Red Bird Cardinals Tuesday night at Middlesboro High School.

Although Red Bird never had the lead in the game, the score was tied at 2-2. Sophomore Cameron Smoak and senior Corey Fleenor scored the next two baskets and the Cardinals never came any closer than one point. That came at 6-5 when Blake Jackson hit a 3-pointer.

The Jackets (5-13) went on an 11-2 run when Steven Taylor drilled a 3-pointer followed by baskets from CeJay Jones, Daniel Pettit and Derrick Lovett. Williamsburg led at the end of the quarter, 21-11.

The pressure defense of the Jackets caused trouble for the Cardinals in the second quarter. Williamsburg allowed just four points while the Jackets tossed in 18 points. The Jackets led at the half 39-15.

Williamsburg put the game out of reach in the third quarter with a 21-1 run. The biggest lead came early in the fourth quarter when Zack Burr put the Jackets ahead, 67-21. By that time coach Patrick Robinson had gone deep to his bench.

“I thought we put pressure on them early in the game and that’s what we wanted to do,” said Patrick. “Our game plan was to put pressure on them and wear them down. We used a lot of players early in the game trying to wear them down.”

Twelve players scored in the game with senior Adam Jones hitting four 3-ponters to lead the Jackets with 14 points in the win. Pettit finished with 12 points, all coming in the paint.

“It’s not unusual for us to play ten games in the first quarter,” said Robinson. “It worked to our advantage. Red Bird got tired in the second quarter and really wore down in the third quarter.”

“We took care of business,” Robinson said. “We got the lead early and was able to rest some of our kids.”

“Adam came in and hit three’s in a four minute stretch that got us going,” said Robinson. “Adam was big for us tonight.”

“Cameron Smoak did a good job, Steven (Taylor) and Derrick (Lovett) played well,” said Robinson.

The Jackets will play the winner of the Pineville-Middlesboro game Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

“It will be a battle with whoever wins that game,” said Robinson. “It will be a tough game to win, Middlesboro on their home floor and Pineville is always tough.”

“We got to come out and execute offensively better Thursday no matter which team we play. If we do that we are going to have a pretty good shot,” said Robinson.

Williamsburg 69, Rd Bird 34

Williamsburg            21  18  22    8- 69

Red Bird            11    4    6  13- 34

  Williamsburg (34) – Taylor 5, Lovett 5, Payne 3, C. Jones 5, Pettit 12, Fleenor 3, Terry 3, Smoak 10, Burr 4, Lowrie 3, A. Jones 14, Williams 2.

  Red Bird (34) – Jackson 6, Sizemore 5, Nantz 11, Young 6, Collett 1, Brock 3, Phipps 2.