Jackets survive Bulldogs in playoff opener

Mon. February 20, 2012 at 11:00 p.m. | By Mike Duprez

Lexington's Keith Horton shoots over Thomasville's Quanny Johnson during their 2-A playoff game at Lexington on Monday. (Photo by Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch)

Lexington crushed archrival Thomasville by 47 points in the semifinals of the Central Carolina Conference tournament last week.
Five days later, the Yellow Jackets had to hold on for dear life in the first round of the 2-A state playoffs.

Keith Horton bombed in six 3-pointers and finished with 24 points and twin brother Kevin Horton made some crucial free throws in the last 20 seconds as Lexington survived 84-79 on Monday night.

The thing is, Lexington coach Robert Hairston saw it coming even as his team was coming off the 88-41 wipeout of the Bulldogs.

“Yeah, when you play a team four times, what do you expect?” Hairston said. “We played them three times in the last two weeks.”

All the intangibles certainly pointed to the Bulldogs, and before the game, coach Tony Clark said his team had nothing to lose.

“I kept telling the guys, told them all week, it’s a rivalry game,” Hairston said. “I didn’t think it was right. We shouldn’t be playing them. But you’ve got to be ready to play. You’ve got to put out your best effort for a game like that. When you win a couple of times big, you have a tendency to say we’ll turn it on in a minute. Give Thomasville credit. They made some shots they don’t normally make.”

Lexington (15-10) will host East Lincoln at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the second round.

The Bulldogs got plenty of good looks inside and out because Lexington tended to collapse on the dribbler, a point a Thomasville fan sitting behind the Bulldog bench kept telling the players. The last big shot came when Latrele Skeen, who had a game-high 25 points, drilled a 3-pointer from the wing, cutting Lexington’s lead to 80-79 with 37 seconds left. Moments earlier, the Jackets had a 76-67 lead.

Then the Bulldogs had an excellent chance to either tie or win the game.

First, Hairston had to use a timeout with 23.4 seconds left when Thomasville sprang a double-team trap. Lock McLean was fouled on the inbounds pass with 22.3 seconds left and missed the first free throw. McLean made the second free throw, making it 81-79 and turning possession over to the Bulldogs. But the Bulldogs threw the ball away and Kevin Horton was fouled with 20.5 seconds remaining. Horton, who was 6-for-7 from the line, hit both free throws to make it a two-possession game.

Quanny Johnson missed on a 3-point try and Kevin Horton was fouled with 5.8 seconds left. Horton hit one of the free throws. When the horn sounded, the Jackets were finally safe.

And the difference was obvious.

“I’m not worried about our scoring,” Hairston said. “I’m concerned about how we defend. We didn’t defend as well as I expected. We’ve got to do a better job of defending.”

As for the Bulldogs, who started the season 0-11 and finished 5-16, it almost didn’t seem like a loss, especially in light of last week’s rout.

“Just a valiant effort,” Clark said. “They’re really good and we knew it. Having to lose, it’s a good game to end the season against Lexington. You know, if we had to end it, at least we played them.”

Lexington (15-10) has a roster full of players who can break out for big games on any night. In this one, it was Mel Covington, who had 17 points. Senior center C.J. Woodberry had 16 points and McLean added 12.

Desmond Wilson was a tough presence in the post for Thomasville with 14 points while guard Demoris Payne had 10, Johnson nine, and center Frank Ingram eight.

Thomasville served notice early that this one was going to be different by jumping out to an 8-2 lead. The Bulldogs led throughout the first quarter and were still ahead 39-36 at halftime as Malik Johnson hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left. Lexington took a 63-60 lead at the end of the third quarter on Keith Horton’s 3-pointer but the Jackets never could get comfortable until the last few seconds.

Mike Duprez can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 218 or mike.duprez@the-dispatch.com.