Hawthorne v. Bell: The Five Standouts
In a battle of 19-win teams, the Hornets of Hawthorne and the Bulldogs of Bell matched-up in a game that did not disappoint. The play was tough. The fans were tougher. Hawthorne got the road W, 60-57. Here are five standouts from the night.
Kahleil Jackson – Hawthorne: Jackson, a junior wing, has a motor that keeps coming at you, regardless of what the scoreboard reads. His 21 points were enough to lead both teams in scoring, for the night. Jackson put the pressure on the defense every time he drove through the lane. The paint is his bread & butter, but he’s capable of hitting the 12-15 foot jumper. Jackson’s an all-around talent.
Devin Lawrence – Hawthorne: The Hornets’ senior floor general came away with 14 points, including a 10-point fourth quarter, notched during their last push to take the lead. One of the strong guards in the area, Lawrence bullied his way into the lane to get the lay-in. He’s really solid at drawing fouls, getting to the foul line six times during that final period.
Mickel Crawford – Hawthorne: This is the guy who can deliver from long-range when you really need a three. The senior guard finished with nine points, hitting a trey in each of the first three quarters. They all came at times where Bell could have really broke the game open, but Crawford’s timely shooting kept Bell, in-reach.
Terek Liles – Bell: With five Bulldogs all scoring over eight points, you can imagine the type of team ball they play. However, Terek led his squad as a force in the paint, finishing the night with a team-high 14 points. Flat out, he’s shifty in the post. Not necessarily the fastest, but his up-and-under moves will get you off your feet. You have to stay disciplined guarding Liles.
Tony Yoder – Bell: Yoder tallied 11 points on the night, and was one of their most effective all-around hoopers in the game. On defense, he continued to be a tough matchup for anyone he guarded. He’s true hustler, contests balls at the rim, doesn’t get beat off the dribble. Really enjoyed his game.