LaFayette punches ticket to Montgomery
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT, THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE – After claiming the boys’ 2A Area 6 on Feb. 9, LaFayette High School turned its sights to high-octane Central-Hayneville High School in the sub-regional round with a state playoff spot on the line.
Despite finding themselves in a tight game in the third quarter, the Bulldogs (24-7) flexed their championship muscle to end the Lions’ (12-10) season with a 79-63 home win on Jan. 14.
Throughout a wild back-and-forth second half, a 26-19 Bulldogs run in the fourth quarter ultimately sealed the game for LHS. That performance didn’t surprise Bulldogs’ head coach Chase Lewis, who said his team is built for adversity and when the lights are the brightest.
“We were composed as usual, and we know that we’re going to handle things like we’re supposed to,” Lewis said. “So in the fourth quarter, we looked like LaFayette basketball. I’m excited about getting back to Montgomery. We lost in the region championship last year, so my mindset is ‘get back to the crime scene and fix the problem.’”
While every starter showed that composure, high-flying senior guard Cameron Thomas perhaps showed it most, scoring 21 points on an afternoon where each LHS starter finished with at least 12.
Against a CHHS squad that scored 86 points per game during their last 10 games, he knew he needed to be aggressive and force the Lions to defend the entire court.
“It’s about taking the small things, any kind of thing personal, that gets your mindset right for the game,” Thomas said. “When you see the gap, you have to attack it so you know you have a chance against a team like that.”
That aggression showed itself early in an extremely physical first quarter even by the Bulldogs’ standards. Although CHHS was somewhat successful drawing fouls as a result, LHS closed strongly behind the three-point line offensively and near the rim defensively.
With LHS ahead 21-10 entering the second quarter, the Lions then slowly worked their way back into the game by converting more of their and-one opportunities. As the lead shrunk, Jayden Thomason’s and Ty’Kaden Williams’ efforts in the paint gave the Bulldogs some breathing room and a 37-30 halftime lead.
Following the break and a hard-fought opening two minutes, CHHS cut the lead further with an excellent showing at the free throw line. Then, Amilleon Huguley came alive at just the right time with a late three-pointer to put LHS 53-44.
The stage was then set for a complete team performance from the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter as LHS’ guards in particular put their bodies on the line and converted several and-one opportunities. By the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter hit, the game was already out of reach for the Lions and the faithful clad in black and gold started an early party in the stands.
Thomas led the Bulldogs with 21 points, while Huguley and Williams both tallied 16 points and Thomason and Kemare Harrington scored 13 and 12 points, respectively. Christian Lawrence finished as the game’s leading scorer with 25 points for CHHS, Amari Surles contributed 17 points.
