Tabb Holds On to Beat Lafayette in Boys Basketball

By Will Armbruster Friday, January 27, 2012

There was Ryan Sawyer and Pete Willie’s spark off the bench. There was Kaleb Mitchell’s nine four-quarter free throws. There was also Daniel Schiele, who scored all seven of his points during the final three minutes that included a pair of clutch baseline jumpers. Oh, and don’t forget about the consistently aggressive post play from forwards Shaq Rodney and Joe Nelson.

No contributions were bigger than any others, because in the end, all that mattered to the players on Tabb High’s boys basketball team was that they held on to beat visiting Lafayette 65-60 Friday night.

“All that mattered was getting a W,” said Mitchell, who led the Tigers with 16 points. “We wanted to come out and get the job done by getting after it early and taking care of the ball.”

It was easily the biggest victory of the season for the Tigers (10-5 Bay Rivers), who moved one game back of the Rams (11-4 Bay Rivers) and Bruton (11-4) – who was upset by Jamestown last night – for second place in the district standings.

The biggest difference was the Tabb defense. They held the Rams to 19 points in the first half as Lafayette’s Big Three of Colton St. Cyr, Dewayne Johnson and John Fitchett were just 5-18 from the field.

“That’s pretty incredible to hold that team to 19 points in a half,” Tigers coach Doug Baggett said. “We made some changes defensively midway through the season, the kids are starting to understand it better and it has stepped our entire game up.”

The alteration to the Tigers’ man-to-man defense, Baggett explained, is to “play your man and one more” by hedging screens more forcefully and active hands to protect against the handoffs.

In doing so, Tabb limited the Rams to a season-low one three-point bucket, which came as the final seconds ticked off and the game virtually over.

“The kids really stepped up tonight, especially on the defensive end,” Baggett added. “We’re coming around, and the idea is to be playing your best ball at the end of the season.”

After Tabb led 26-19 at the break, reigning Bay Rivers Player of the Year Shaq Rodney (11 points, 6 rebounds) scored the Tigers’ first six points of the quarter as they extended their lead 32-21. The shooting woes continued for Lafayette as they trailed 41-32 heading into the final quarter.

After Lafayette cut it to single digits on Fitchett’s jumper, Sawyer came up with a big steal, and despite being knocked to the floor on a foul, finished the layup at the other end.

St.  Cyr would knock down a pair of free throws on the Rams ensuing possession, but Sawyer responded again with another tough finish in the paint to bump the Tigers’ lead to 47-36 with 5:45 to play.

“Ryan had the biggest game of his life tonight, he was terrific,” Baggett said. “Ryan, Pete [Willie] and Brandon [Yancey] were all huge for us off the bench.”

As they have all season, though, Lafayette was at their best down the final stretch and slowly chipped away at the Tigers’ lead.

With 4:30 left in regulation, Ben Colley got things started with a steal before St. Cyr found him on the block at the other end for the easy finish.

Fitchett came up with a steal on Tabb’s next possession and knocked down a pair of free throws to make it 47-40.

Jeff Smith pulled down an offensive rebound in traffic and finished the put-back with 3:43 left.

Another Tabb turnover resulted in points for Lafayette and Colley finished off a nice left-handed turnaround to make it a four-point game, 48-44, with 3:15 to play.

With the score 57-53, Lafayette’s Calvin Mitchell forced a steal out of the Rams’ full-court press and found Jaquan Hayes under the basket to make it a two-point contest, 57-55 with 55 seconds to play.

That was as close as the Rams would get, though.

Mitchell and Schiele combined to go 8-9 from the charity stripe during the final minute to seal it.

“Yesterday was our best practice of the year, so I’m not surprised the way we came out and got it done tonight,” Baggett said. “I really feel like this team has gotten better every week. The goal is to go into the tournament hot.”

Lafayette coach Tony Traver said his team was never able to fully recover from their slow start.

“I know we have the ability to put it together all four quarters,” Traver said. “But when you come out and miss for or five layups to start the and get behind in the foul category it puts you in a tough position to come back from.

“I’m proud of the way the kids fought back, but they’ve got to figure out a way to play that way all 32 minutes.”

Tabb 66  Lafayette 60

Tabb 13  13  15  25 – 66

Lafayette 13  6  13  27 – 60

Tabb (10-5 BRD)- Mitchell 16, Sawyer 13, Rodney 11, Nelson 10, Schiele 7, Baggett 5, Willie 5. Totals 15; 33-46 66.

Lafayette (11-4 BRD)- Fitchett 18, St.Cyr 15, Johnson 9, Smith 8, Colley 6, Hayes 4. Totals 23; 13-18 60.