Duo sparks Spartans to tops in the district

Ed Nixon and Anthony Dorsey each scores 23 as Lakewood notches its second win of the season over Class 5A-11 rival Boca Ciega.

By JOE SMITH
Published January 27, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Lakewood senior guard Ed Nixon insists the Spartans are far from a two-player show.

But on Friday night against Boca Ciega, the 6-foot-3 star put on an exhibition of his own.

In the first 45 seconds, Nixon scored inside, soared to block a jumper and raced coast to coast for a layup.

Nixon finished with 23 points, as did senior Anthony Dorsey, as Lakewood beat the Pirates 75-65 in Friday's soldout showdown between the district's top teams

In beating the Pirates (17-4, 10-2) for the second time, Lakewood (19-2, 11-1) clinched the top seed in the Class 5A, District 11 tournament, set for Feb. 6-10 at Boca Ciega.

"We're starting to hit our peak," Nixon said. "Everybody's stepping up."

The Spartans opened a 10-point second-quarter lead thanks to Dorsey's back-to-back 3-pointers. Each time the Pirates chippped away, a Lakewood role player knocked them back.

Senior forward Rashon Stewart (10 points) and junior guard Reggie Reed (seven) hit clutch shots and helped break the Pirates' press.

Boca Ciega, sparked by forward Orhian Johnson's 18 points, got as close as 3. But turnovers - and an 11-for-23 performance from the free-throw line - proved costly.

"Same story as last game (against Lakewood)," Boca Ciega coach Randy Shuman said. "We battled, but still shot 50 percent from the line. Hopefully, we'll get to see them again."

[Last modified January 27, 2007, 00:11:39]