Lexington Boys’ basketball Team Expect Good Seeding For Upcoming {Playoffs
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Lexington—The Lexington Wildcat boys’ basketball team is about where everyone expected them to be late in the 2011-12 season (16-5- 6-0).
“We have been playing very well of late,” said veteran head coach Bailey Harris who won his 500th game back in January over South Aiken, 55-45. “We have lost to three high caliber out-of-state teams and to Irmo twice. We like being undefeated in the region.”
In the past three weeks senior star Shaq Roland has begun to come into his own transforming from two post season all-star football games back into basketball. “Our first region game was literally the day he got back from the Under Armor all-American game,” said Coach Harris.
“It takes not only some practice time to get back into basketball shape but it takes time for our guys to get used to playing with him again. He had a monster game against North Augusta the other night when he scored 17 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and had six assists. We beat them 75-46.”
Coach Harris said that with a veteran team surrounding Roland that it is not necessary for him to score 30 points every time the team plays. “We have Nigel Gates averaging 12.8 points and 9.8 rebounds a game and Joby Glmph is scoring 14 points a game. We also have plenty of guys off the bench, or some of our other starters, who are capable of double digits at any time. We have plenty of scoring help. It has just been a matter of getting ever body together and developing some continuity.”
Lexington will close out the regular season with games against South Aiken, Orangeburg- Wilkinson and White Knoll. The Wildcats should be favored in all three games but Coach Harris cautions what might happen should the Bruins spring an upset.
“If O-W (17-3) wins at their place they win the region because they have more AAAA non-conference wins than we do,” said Coach Harris. “The first time we played O-W we led at 33-6 to start the game and we won 64-47. Since then they have won 13 straight games. They are a quality team and when we go down there it will be a battle.”
The only player that has started every game for Lexington is 6-3 senior guard Sam McDermitt. “He’s a third year varsity player and a good leader,” said Coach Harris. McDermitt is averaging 8.5 points a game.
The 5th starter spot has been shared with several players. JaQuan West, a transfer from Batesburg-Leesville, and Jalen Cook has been playing well of late. “It took Jalen a few weeks to get back in basketball shape and he played in the North-South game,” said Coach Harris.
For the season Gates is the top rebounder per game with a 9.8 average and Glymph is next at 6.5 boards a game. Glyph and McDermitt average 4 and three assists per game. Roland is averaging 17 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Coach Harris said that Roland will focus strictly on football at USC where he has signed to play. “I get asked all the time if he is the best player I’ve coached and we have had a lot of good ones but he is probably the best I have coached,” said Coach Harris. “He has a lot of God given ability no matter what sport he is splaying.”
Coach Harris said his Wildcats are at their best when they are able to put pressure on the offense, turn them over, and score an easy basket in transition. “We like to create pressure and score baskets in transition,” said Coach Harris. “We have a veteran group of players and we hope to go far in the playoffs.”
