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Flashy Spartans into final
By JOE SMITH
Published March 1, 2007
LAKELAND - Double-teamed and nearly bumped out of bounds, Ed Nixon improvised.
The Lakewood senior guard slyly split the Jacksonville Robert E. Lee defenders, slashed to the hoop and found guard Sean Johnson alone for a layup before the halftime buzzer.
With his typical trickery, Nixon simply put on a show Wednesday night. Saddled with two early fouls, he scored a game-high 28 points to carry the Spartans to a 57-44 win over Lee in the semifinals at the Lakeland Center.
Nixon "is one of the best guards in the state," Lee coach Stephen Jenkins said. "He made some huge shots."
In Friday's state championship at 7 p.m., the Spartans (29-2) will face another one of the state's top guards, Lake Howell senior Nick Calathes (28 ppg), a Florida-bound star and reigning Mr. Basketball.
Lakewood will play for its third state title in six years; to do so, it will have to beat a Silverhawks (28-3) team that has beaten every Florida opponent by at least 11 points.
"I don't care who we play," Nixon said. "I just want to win."
Nixon showed his desire in a first-quarter flurry. The 6-foot-3 guard scored the first two baskets, then drove and dished to Mike Morrison for a thunderous two-handed jam.
Seventy seconds in, Lakewood was up 8-0 and Lee was shell-shocked. That soon changed, however, as junior guard Ronnnie Weston heated up, scoring 10 of his team-high 18 in the second quarter.
With starters Morrison, Anthony Dorsey and Ronnie Lane on the bench with two fouls, Nixon stole the show.
He scored in transition. He sank pull-up 3-pointers. He kept Lakewood afloat, trailing just 37-35 after three quarters.
That's when Dorsey (14 points) joined the party. The 6-foot-3 senior scored three quick baskets, including a dunk, then found Nixon in transition for a layup. In the final six minutes, Lakewood used a 2-3 zone and outscored a cold-shooting Lee 15-2.
"The fourth quarter," Lakewood coach Dan Wright said, "was ours."
Lakewood 57
Lee 44
[Last modified March 1, 2007, 00:17:44]
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by BILL
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03/27/07 01:27 PM
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GO LAKEWOO LIKEWE SAID BACK IN THE DAYS
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by Jim
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03/02/07 02:23 PM
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Lake Howell better hope Dorsey doesnt get hot. If he does its a for sure win 4 Lakewood. and jay u got it backwards, lake howell is gonna get drubbed by lakewood
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by jay
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03/01/07 08:04 PM
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lake howell is going to wreck you guys.
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by Aaron
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03/01/07 12:58 PM
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go lakewood!!!!
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by Melvin
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03/01/07 12:30 PM
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I noticed from the photo in today's sports section that Alexis Smith of Robert E. Lee failed in his attempt to block the shot of Lakewood's Ed Nixon. Could it be because he was too busy trying to keep his pants up on his behind? Go figure!
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by Willis
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03/01/07 12:25 PM
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Way to Lakewood. Kudos to Coach Wright. Keep up the good work.
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by Melvin
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03/01/07 12:22 PM
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Sorry for the short tirade on personal hygiene. Otherewise, excellent article on the game. Keep it up.
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by bill
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03/01/07 10:08 AM
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I think Lakewood should take the final from what i've seen
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by pk
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03/01/07 07:31 AM
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Joe, awesome job with the play by play from Lakeland.....thanks! GO LAKEWOOD!!
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