Drama ends quickly as Lakewood routed

Lake Wales ends the first half with 21-4 run en route to a 64-48 victory.

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published December 28, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Lakewood has been outhustled in games. Outjumped. Outshot. Outpressed. Outplayed, even.

But rarely all in the same game.

That was the case Tuesday when Lake Wales led from start to finish and dominated the Spartans in a 64-48 victory at Boca Ciega. The Highlanders were tied only once, at 11, and led by as many as 19 points in a meeting of Class 4A semifinalists from a season ago.

While Lakewood went on to win the state title and Lake Wales fell in the semifinals, the Spartans hardly looked the part of defending state champ and their meeting, expected to be the game of the day, fizzled.

Lake Wales (10-2) is ranked No. 4 in Class 4A. Lakewood (9-2) is No. 3 in Class 5A.

But the drama was missing despite a sizable crowd, especially after the Spartans shot just 4-of-24 in the first half and did not make a basket during the final 7:25 of the second quarter.

"We've been playing well," Lake Wales coach Jimmy Johnson said. "We were at the City of Palms tournament (in Fort Myers) and played well there, so we were really, really prepared."

After Sean Johnson's 3-pointer tied the score at 11 early in the second quarter, Lake Wales took control as the Spartans had no answer for Anthony Johnson, a 6-foot-8 center, and guards Dominique Jones and Jarel Blocker.

Behind the trio, Lake Wales ended the first half with a 21-4 run, and Blocker scored the final nine points.

Every time the Spartans tried to make a run in the second half, Lake Wales countered with a quick return trip down the court for a basket. Lakewood pulled within 54-42 early in the fourth quarter after an Anthony Dorsey 3-pointer but never got within single digits.

The Spartans dropped into the consolation bracket and will face Class 5A Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer in a battle of last season's state champions at 5:30 p.m. today at Bogie.

[Last modified December 28, 2005, 00:37:18]