Blades edge Rams in OT
| Tuesday, Jan 31 2012 10:13 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Jan 31 2012 10:15 PM
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East's Fatai Eke fouls Caleb Hawksworth of Garces as Hawksworth went up for the shot in the third period at Garces high.
Rashad Jackson of Garces takes off on a fast break with East's Robert Johnson in close pursuit in the first quarter at the Garces high gym.
Caleb Hawksworth of Garces eyes the basket surrounded by East defenders, Miguel Heredia (10), David Lee (00), and Fatai Eke. Hawksworth was fouled on the play.
Eric Parra of Garces drives for a lay up as East's Stefan Perry attempts to block the shot.
Milt Henderson understands that his approach has not been unique. No one can refute that it's been successful.
By emphasizing defense, East High's boys basketball team has found a way to turn its season around, the latest example coming in a 52-48 overtime victory Tuesday at Garces after a big second-half comeback.
"I'm pretty sure everybody harps on defense in the preseason and conditioning and stuff," Henderson said. "But when we do our drills, and we're running and sweating and diving on the floor, that's all we talk about. We want to be in a game where we're up one and we need a stop to win the game. That's what we harp on. Not the offense, but the defense."
Tevin Beasley broke a 48-48 tie with a free throw in the final 30 seconds of overtime, and East's zone forced Garces into a contested baseline jumper that Dom Carlson missed. Another free throw, plus a putback bucket from Fatai Eke, put the game away.
Now, complete control of the Southeast Yosemite League race rests with the Blades (13-8, 4-0 SEYL), who have won nine games in a row overall.
"It's really big," said Eke, who finished with 9 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. "We learned a lot tonight. We're a lot better."
Trailing 26-14 at halftime, East held the Rams to 18 second-half points.
"There wasn't a whole lot to put on the chalkboard," Henderson said. "We just had to have more heart. They had more passion for the game than we did in the first half. It just seemed like we were sleep-walking. But we got some enthusiasm back in the second half."
They did it with a zone defense that flummoxed Garces and made Henderson look like a changed man.
"This is extremely new; it's something I tossed and turned with in the end of December, beginning of January," Henderson said. "Since I've been at East, I've always played (man-to-man). But this team, we just don't click in the man. But in the zone, it gives teams difficulty to start an offense. We seem to play well, so we'll stick with it for a while."
The Blades got just enough offense to come back, taking their first lead of the night on Tevin Beasley's jumper with 27 seconds left.
But Garces (14-7, 2-2) tied the game after a bizarre final 10 seconds. The Rams were called for a lane violation on Stefan Perry's free-throw attempt with 9 seconds left, but Perry missed the front end of a one-and-one anyway.
Then Garces freshman Sheldon Croney drove to the hoop, only to see his shot swatted away by Eke -- who was called for a foul with his body, sending Croney to the line with 3 seconds on the clock.
Croney missed the first free throw -- but this time, East was called for a lane violation and Croney sunk the two tying freebies.
Eke, a 6-foot-6 sophomore retaliated by scoring the first and last baskets of overtime.
"The refs called it; I didn't feel it," Eke said. "But I just came out harder. I didn't feel like we deserved that call, so I just came out to win the game."
Still, this one was won with defense. Eke altered numerous shots with his length inside, and Garces star guard Rashad Jackson fouled out with just 9 points in the fourth quarter.
"We just couldn't make a shot," said Garces coach Gino Lacava, who was honored during a pregame ceremony for his 400th career win last month. "We had a lot of open shots. We just couldn't hit one. Just one of those nights."
Croney and Carlson each had 10 points to lead the Rams. Rob Johnson led the Blades with 17.
"This is the hardest place in our league to get a win," Henderson said. "We're just fortunate to get one."
