Chandler Lawson is thankful Wooddale’s season continues on
Chandler Lawson can smile now. It’s because Wooddale is back in the high school boys basketball playoffs after the TSSAA ruled in its favor to have its two-year postseason ban lifted on Friday. But, Lawson, who’s in his final year…
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Continue ReadingChandler Lawson can smile now.
It’s because Wooddale is back in the high school boys basketball playoffs after the TSSAA ruled in its favor to have its two-year postseason ban lifted on Friday.
But, Lawson, who’s in his final year of high school, was mentally prepared to end his high school basketball career in the regular season, but was confident things would come out in a positive light.
“It’s a blessing to get another chance to play again,” Lawson said. “I thought my season was over, but God made another blessing.”
Wooddale (24-3) was playing at Melrose on its homecoming on Jan. 25. According to the officials report on Jan. 30, the fight between both schools broke out with about 1:13 left in the game after sophomore forward Johnathan Lawson tossed the basketball behind himself to one of the players for the Golden Wildcats. The Melrose basketball player tossed the basketball back to Johnathan and hit him in the head.
Then, one of Johnathan’s teammates grabbed the basketball and hit that Golden Wildcat player with the ball. After that, players from both teams got into a fist fight, then fans stormed the court from both sides.
But, in an updated story on Feb. 8, it was determined by Melrose and Wooddale administrators that the Cardinal fans did not get on the floor, and the entire Wooddale boys basketball team left the court and entered the Golden Wildcats’ cafeteria to get away from the brawl.
In the original ruling, both schools, along with Westwood and Fairley, were banned from the postseason for this season and the 2019-20 season and had to pay a $3,500 fine. Wooddale, Westwood, and Melrose were the only schools to file an appeal. But, because of the Cardinals non-involvement in their brawl with the Golden Wildcats, they’re able to compete for a 2A state championship, while Melrose, Fairley, and Westwood’s seasons are over.
Chandler’s coach and father, Keelon Lawson, broke the news to the team, giving his players a sigh of relief, and a clear state of mind.
“We just celebrated,” Chandler said. “We thought our season was over after that hard work we had put in. We thought it had went down the drain.”
On Saturday night against Raleigh-Egypt, Chandler and his teammates were able to play without a cloud hovering over the program. Wooddale defeated the Pharaohs, 62-55 to capture this season’s SCIAA 2A Boys City Championship. Chandler was named the MVP after finishing with 17 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists.
Chandler went 6 for 12 from the field and scored his team’s first seven points of the game.
Alvin Miles, who transferred from Whitehaven midway through the season, added 12 points on 4 of 18 shooting. Point guard Kevin Brown pitched in 10, with eight of those points coming during a pivotal 10-0 run that put the Cardinals up 45-37 after squandering a 31-15 lead in the second quarter.
This win is nothing compared to winning the 2A state championship. Chandler and Johnathan are coming off a 3A state championship last season with Memphis East, which was coached by current Memphis coach Penny Hardaway.
The Lawson brothers are the only ones on this season’s Wooddale team with championship experience. Chandler mentioned he will have to mentor the young guys on what it will take to take home a gold ball.
“It’s going to be a tough journey,” said Chandler, who’s one of three finalists for the 2A Mr. Basketball award. “We’re going to have fans get involved. You’re going to have haters. You just have to stay focused and stick to the game plan.”