Lexington boys clinch CCC title

Fri. February 03, 2012 at 11:31 p.m. | By Bruce Wehrle

Even when the Lexington boys are only running hot and cold, instead of their preferred steady sizzle, it’s still good enough for the Yellow Jackets to win the Central Carolina Conference regular season championship.

The Jackets put together two hot streaks to break away from rival Salisbury, then endured a cold spell in the final period before holding on to defeat the Hornets 67-61 Friday night.

“When Lexington and Salisbury get together, it doesn’t matter what their records are,” said Lexington coach Robert Hairston, whose team is now 8-0 in the CCC, 11-9 overall. “It’s going to be a game.

“I don’t think we played bad. We didn’t play great, but we didn’t play bad, either.”

After a somewhat sluggish start, the Jackets trailed 20-16 midway through the second period before ending the quarter with a 14-3 run. Part of that spurt was aided by several Hornet turnovers, but more than that, Lexington’s Mikal Lewis simply found his way to the basket time and again.

With the Hornets up 23-18, Lewis drove the basket for a layup and then was fouled, completing the three-point play.

Moments later, Mel Covington connected on a three-point play to put Lexington ahead 24-23, but then it was back to Lewis, who scored on a layup and then a bank shot on consecutive possessions as the Jackets jumped out to a 30-23 lead at the half.

“He’s another one of those guys who can come around at any moment,” said Hairston. “He can stroke it.”

The Jackets put together another run in the third period, this time reeling off an 18-3 spurt to build a 50-29 edge. This time, it was C.J. Woodberry at the wheel, knocking down seven points in about three minutes.

But just when the Jackets got hot, they turned cold.

Salisbury countered with a run of its own, holding Lexington scoreless for the first five minutes of the fourth period to close to within six points at 55-49.

But the Hornets stymied themselves with several crucial turnovers down the stretch and the Jackets — who had only two field goals in the fourth period — just had too much of a lead for the Hornets to overcome.

“Now is the time for us to begin to peak for the playoffs,” said Hairston. “I sense that we’re ready to peak.”

Keith Horton paced Lexington with 17 points, while Lewis scored 16 and Woodberry added 15.

Salisbury, now 4-4 in the CCC, 8-13 overall, was led by Tion McCain with 22 points and Tony Nunn with 17.