South Laurel escapes the sting

This one belongs to Williamsburg! It might not say it on the scoreboard at the end of the game, but the Yellow Jackets outplayed South Laurel tonight. The scoreboard read: Visitors 70, Home 68.

If it had not been for a non-call at the end of the game, this one might have gone into overtime or Williamsburg might have pulled off the biggest upset in the region. But, it didn’t happen and we all live for tomorrow.

Here’s what happened. South Laurel jumped out to a 7-0 lead and I though it was over. But, Steven Taylor goes wild and scores the next seven points. It’s tied 7-7. South Laurel gets the lead back as Matt Watkins and Zack Smith scores.

That didn’t phase the Jackets who score the next eight points, count the baskets as Taylor hits a three, Cunningham hit a free throw, Taylor takes it to big Matt St. John down the lane for two, then Teague scores off a rebound in the face…Matt St. John. WILLIAMSBURG leads 15-11. Holy Crap!!!

Too much Williamsburg so the men in the stripes start picking off little touch fouls on the BURG. Aaron Cunningham and Chad Terry to the rescue and the game is tied at the half when Thomas Rains sticks back a rebound. It’s 29 all.

Williamsburg gets into deeper foul trouble in the third quarter. Coach Patrick Robinson goes to Daniel Pettit and Thomas Rains when they will not let Teague play defense on St. John. But, St. John can knock down the Jackets on a blocking attempt. No wonder he had 14 blocked shots.

There was no quit in these Jackets tonight. They almost got blown out when they made four turnovers in a row and South Laurel went up 62-52. They were even up by 12 when Matthew Gilbert hit two free throws with 2:07 LEFT in the GAME.

Somehow, I don’t even think I know, but Williamsburg outscored the Cards 12-2 in the final 1:46 and had a chance to win the game. It looked like South Laurel was out of trouble when Smith scored with :34 seconds to go ahead 70-65. But, Cunningham nailed a three-pointer with :20 left. It took ten seconds before Teague (of all people) fouled St. John.

Teague made the ultimate sacrifice for the team, knowing he had four fouls, none to give. But, he did it anyway. It nearly paid off because St. John missed both free throws and the ball goes out of bounds to Williamsburg with eight seconds.

Taylor wanted the final shot and drove down the lane. It looked to me he was fouled on a reach in, but no call was made and the ball went out of bounds and South Laurel wins.

What a gutty game by the Yellow Jackets. Teague took it to St. John and didn’t back down against the big guy. He finished the game with 16 points and 11 rebounds…seven of those came on offense. St. John scored at well at times, but had only seven rebounds. Zack Smith saved the day for the Cardinals, playing his best game that I have watched him play. He had 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Williamsburg was 28 of 65 from the field, 7 of 12 from three point range but only 5 of 7 from the line. South Laurel was 27 of 58 from the field, 3 of 11 from three point range and 13 of 17 from the line. Ten of the 14 Williamsburg were on the guys in the middle.

Of course I went to the game expecting a South Laurel blow out. But, Williamsburg just totally out-played South Laurel.