ST. PETERSBURG - The "Meehan Madmen" faithful from nearby St. Petersburg Catholic came in droves to the Admiral Farragut gym, known as the "Beehive," hoping for a Barons upset over the defending Class 2A state champs.
The Blue Jackets would have none of that.
Admiral Farragut exhibited why it is ranked No. 3 in the state poll in a 70-60 win over the Barons on Friday night, a game not as close as the score.
SPC junior forward Aaron Holmes sank the game's first basket to give the Barons their only lead. The athletic Blue Jackets (22-3) took the Barons (18-5) out of their halfcourt game, going up 20-10 after the first quarter and 45-27 at halftime.
Admiral Farragut shot 61.5 percent (16-of-26) in the half and held SPC to 30 percent shooting (5-of-15).
"I'm very happy with our effort," Blue Jackets coach Michael Wells said. "We played a great first half, passing the ball, finding the open man, playing solid defense."
Part of that defense focused on Holmes, averaging 26.5 ppg. Blue Jackets guard Lewis Lampley clamped down on his AAU teammate, often forcing Holmes to pass or shoot off balance. Holmes finished with 18 points but shot 4-of-14.
"We knew he'd get his points, but we were gonna make it hard for him," Lampley said. "I bet that's the toughest 18 points he's ever got."
During a 9-2 AFA run to end the first quarter, Holmes attempted a contested two-handed dunk on a fast break but got hung up on the rim and fell face-first. He hurt his wrist and came out of the game for a minute.
In the second quarter, sophomore forward Ed Rolax (12 points, four rebounds) scored five quick points, including a fastbreak dunk. Then the James Madison-bound Lampley soared in for an emphatic follow jam to start the Blue Jackets on a 12-2 run.
Senior guard Emery Anderson also played a big role in the first half, scoring 11 of his 12 and adding five rebounds.
In the second half, 6-10 junior center Mareese Speights scored 18 of his 25. He made 9 of 10 free throws, with six consecutive in the final five minutes, when St. Pete Catholic attempted a comeback.
"I love it when the fans try to give it to me," said Speights, speaking of the Barons' loud student section. "Their energy gives me even more energy. It was nice to shut 'em up."
