Bulldogs stay hot, maul Reeltown in opening round
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE – Knowing they had an extended break ahead of them, the LaFayette High School boys’ basketball team spent the better part of a week focused solely on self-improvement ahead of the 2A Area 6 tournament.
That attention to detail more than paid off as the Bulldogs (22-7, 6-0) showcased an impressive range of scoring and swarmed the entire court on defense to dominate the Rebels (3-15, 0-6) 69-34 at home on Feb. 6.
Other than a slow pace to open the game, LHS boys’ head basketball coach Chase Lewis was pleased with his squad’s effort, particularly on the defensive side of the ball where improved communication caught his attention.
“The sky’s the limit for this team if they stay disciplined. They can go as far as they want to go, but it’s up to them. That’s one thing I know about this team. We practiced a lot this week worrying about us and being competitive on our end,” Lewis said.
As one of the Bulldogs’ leaders and primary ball handlers, senior guard Cameron Thomas has provided a steadying presence all season long. That focus and attention to detail has worn off on the rest of the team as LHS looks to drown out the noise and lock in for a playoff run.
“It’s all about handling business and doing what you’re supposed to do while following the game plan that coach gave us and executing well, that’s all,” Thomas said. “We don’t think about rankings and stuff, we just worry about our next opponent each game and take them one at a time.”
The Bulldogs' focus was tested early against RHS in a sloppy and mistake-filled first quarter as both teams tried to find their footing. Ultimately, the LHS’ ability to drive and finish at the rim through contact allowed them to take a convincing 19-10 lead despite excellent defending and three-point shooting from RHS.
That was the last time the game was competitive as the Bulldogs forced numerous turnovers and imposed their will both in the offensive paint and on the fast break, and star guard Amilleon Huguley finally imposed his presence.
Coming out of halftime with a 35-17 lead, LHS kept the defensive pressure up and made the Rebels earn every single point. That pressure eventually led to more fast-break points for the Bulldogs, who went on a 20-10 run to truly put the game out of reach.
With LHS up by 28 points, both teams opted to give many of their bench players playing time in the fourth quarter, which was surprisingly competitive despite the scoreline and the reserves being on the court.
Huguley led all scorers with 16 points for the Bulldogs, and Thomas, Kemare Harrington and Jayden Thomason each chipped in nine points. Brody Smith paced RHS with 12 points.
