Who needs accolades?
With two state titles, Lakewood senior Sean Morrison doesn't covet the spotlight.
By C.J. RISAK
Published March 13, 2005
LAKELAND - Opponents throughout the state tournament likely figured if they could stop Lakewood's Sean Morrison and Mario Telfair, their chances of winning were pretty good.
That's what Orlando Jones' coach Jerry Howard thought.
And why not? Morrison and Telfair combined to average 32 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists during the season. No other Spartan was in double figures in any category.
Of course, the only number that interested the Spartans appeared not on individual stats sheets but in the wins column, which is what Lakewood got against Jones on Saturday, taking the Class 4A final 60-57.
Most people would take a look at the statistics from Lakewood's two final four games (2002 and this season) and think Morrison, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, had a pair of sub-par performances.
And his numbers were not great. Thirteen points in two games, which fell short of his single-game average of 18.2 points, to go with 7.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
But the final numbers didn't matter to Morrison. He had what he wanted.
"I knew I helped my team," he said. "Points don't matter to me. There's no mixed feelings - I'd rather not score and win than have 40 and lose."
A lot of ingredients go into making a championship team, including self-sacrifice. That, according to Lakewood coach Dan Wright, is perhaps Morrison's greatest contribution.
Morrison showed it early in the win over Jones. Dion Burton, a 5-10 junior, could not handle the point guard position alone against the Tigers' Darrius Walker.
"We understood their 22 (Walker) was very tough," Wright said. "We were having trouble getting the ball inside, and it had to do with strength."
Wright put the bigger, stronger Morrison at the point to help out.
"At the end of the first quarter, we challenged (Morrison) to make everybody better rather than look for his own shot," Wright said.
The move didn't surprise Morrison - he has played almost every position this season. And though his numbers certainly weren't the kind he usually posted - nine points, seven rebounds, two steals - he did what he had to do to get a win for his team.
"Sean is what I call a multifaceted player," Wright said. "He can play three positions. And he's always in a team mode."
That's why he has something no other basketball player in school history has - two state championships.