Lakewood edges Miami Monsignor Pace, which struggles late with free throws.
By JOHN C. COTEY
Published December 30, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - Once again, bad free throw shooting cost the Spartans a game.
Only this time, it was the Miami Monsignor Pace Spartans.
Two days after a heartbreaking loss in the final seconds thanks to an inability to make free throws, Lakewood watched Pace make only 2 of 6 in the final two minutes and escaped with a 53-48 win Monday afternoon at the Hooters Holiday Shootout.
The Class 4A, No.5 ranked Spartans held Pace, the No.2-ranked Class 3A team, without a field goal over the final six minutes, and Coryon Ross sank both his free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining to cap a 11-2 run to end the game.
"We talked before the game about making your free throws and finishing off games," Lakewood coach Dan Wright said. "We did both of those better. And we played great defense in the third quarter, and that got us back in the game."
The Spartans (8-1) trailed 32-23 at halftime, but scored 11 straight in the third quarter to get within a point heading into the final quarter.
Edward Brown's free throw with 3:23 left in the game gave Lakewood the lead for good at 47-46. Pace's Ian Gibson had a chance a minute later to put his team back in front, but missed two free throws, and Lakewood's Mario Telfair slashed to the basket for two points to make it 49-46.
Neither team shot free throws well, but Lakewood made them at a more opportune time. Pace made 8 of 19 and Lakewood made 8 of 20, and was only 3 of 10 in the fourth quarter before Ross' clutch makes.
Mario Telfair, who scored seven points in the first and third quarters, finished with a game-high 18 and was the only Lakewood player in double figures.
"We needed this one," Telfair said. "We came out and played better defense, instead of just letting it go like we did the other night."
