Lamar ends eight game skid

By By Matt Barrett/staff writer
Jan. 26, 2002
The Lamar Raiders and the Central Academy Vikings put on a physical display Friday night with Lamar receiving a 67-56 win.
The homestanding Raiders got their victory in a foul fest. Lamar and Central split 24 fouls in the first half alone.
Central won the girls' game 33-28.
Lamar boys 67
Central Academy 56
Lamar and Central both had problems finding their rhythm early in the game. The two teams combined for only 15 points in the first quarter.
The Vikings scored first but Lamar would soon answer. Raider David Haggard placed the first two points on the board for Lamar from the free throw line.
The Raiders and the Vikings managed to commit 24 fouls and a technical in less than 13 minutes of play.
Jace Hill's three-pointer four minutes into the game put Lamar up 5-2. Central answered by pounding it inside to big man Chris King. King helped the Vikings outscore the Raiders in the first quarter 8-7.
Lamar got its groove going in the second quarter. The Raiders outscored Central 26-16 in the period. Quinton Brown was the first Raider to score. He was followed by a jumper from Haggard. The Raiders regained control of the middle behind big man Monroe Mayfield.
Just 30 seconds into entering the game, Mayfield contributed a bucket putting Lamar on top 14-8. The Vikings would not regain the lead again the rest of the way.
Hill scored 12 points in the half nine of those came with less than four minutes remaining in the second period. Hill scored a three-pointer with 3:30 on the clock in the half. Hill's three put the Raiders on top 25-12.
Haggard had 10 for the Raiders in the half which included a clutch 3-for-3 effort from the line. Lamar led Central Academy 33-24 at the half.
The Vikings opened up the half with an eight-point run cutting the Raider lead to one. Brown sank a three-pointer three minutes into the half to give Lamar a 36-32 lead.
Hill followed Brown's effort with a fading jumper. Daniel Harrison also placed points on the board for the Raiders in the period. The two teams combined for 12 points each to make it 44-36 at the end of three.
Lamar got points early in the fourth period from Hill and Haggard. The Vikings countered by hitting on 5-of-6 free throws and two three-pointers less than three minutes deep in the final period.
The run helped cut the Lamar lead to 50-49 with under five minutes remaining. The game's physical play intensified in the final quarter. Lamar was 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the final minutes. This proved to be the deciding factor.
Lamar scored 10 points in the last 50 seconds to clinch the win, 67-56. Hill lead the Raiders in scoring while Haggard contributed 19 for Lamar.
Lamar travels to Newton County Academy tonight.
The Vikings got 20 points from Tyler Huerkamp and 12 from Chris King.
Central girls 33
Lamar 28
Lamar controlled the entire first period of play outscoring Central 10-4. Myleia Shirley and Summer Richie split the points in the quarter. The Lady Raiders faced a tough half court press late in first period.
Lamar got outscored by the Lady Vikings in the second period 10-5. Lamar did not find the net until Shirley nailed a deep three with two minutes remaining in the half.
The Lady Vikings' efforts were not enough to take the lead going into the break as Lamar led 15-14 at the half.
Central came out to the third quarter scoring six points. Lamar still trailed the Lady Vikings 20-15 with four minutes remaining in the third. Richie was the only Lady Raider to score in the quarter.
Lamar trailed 22-17 going into the fourth period.
The Lady Raiders scored six of their final 11 points from the free throw line, but were unable to recapture the lead.
Shirley led Lamar in scoring with 11 points while Richie contributed nine. The 4-19 Lady Raiders face Newton County Academy tonight.
Central, 13-16, got 13 points from Carrie Coker and eight from Meagan Stokes.