by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond
To defeat a team with the skill and athleticism of a Highland Springs, the opposition must play a complete game with few mistakes.
On Friday night Douglas Freeman was up to the challenge for a half but could not finish the task as the No. 3 Springers defeated the Rebels 72-53 in the semifinals of the Rebel Invitational.
At halftime Douglas Freeman led 32-30 behind strong play from junior Jake Eastman (20 points), though in the second half Highland Springs and Dazmond Starke (16 points) regained the form that so many have come accustomed to.
“I don’t tirade as I used to,” Springers coach George Lancaster said. “I try to make adjustments at halftime now. That is what halftime is for.”
Those adjustments focused largely on Eastman who had 16 points in the first half but was held to only four in the second. Douglas Freeman as a whole only scored five points in the third quarter. The Springers switched to a triangle-and-two with senior Harry Lee Daniel on Eastman.
“We try to pick out whoever is hot and try to adjust,” Daniel said. “I am usually the one that guards that player and I have a lot of pride to try and not let them score.”
Daniel got Highland Springs going early with back-to-back 3-pointers to start the game and the Springers led 15-12 after the first quarter.
With the home crowd cheering them on the Rebels opened the second quarter on a 17-7 run to take a 29-22 advantage. Josh Brinkley (12 points) began to show some force inside and Eastman found his range scoring 12 points in the quarter including two long 3-pointers. Douglas Freeman headed to the locker room leading by two.
“We could be much better than this,” Lancaster said. “We are a good defensive team but we didn’t show it in the first half.”
The Springers sure showed it in the second half as their full-court pressure forced numerous Rebels’ turnovers leading to easy baskets. Highland Springs outscored Douglas Freeman 21-5 in the third quarter with Starke providing eight points and Harvey Mills contributing six.
Douglas Freeman was able to find some offense again in the fourth quarter but the mountain was just to high to climb with Highland Springs making sure Eastman would not hurt them from the perimeter.
“We picked up our intensity and played a lot harder,” Daniel said. “To beat Highland Springs you have to play to great halves.”
Though the final score may have been a little lopsided, the closeness of the game early in an upper-tier tournament should prove to help the Springers down the road.
“This will help us to build for the tight games and tight situations we may get into later,” Daniel said.
Daniel finished with 14 points and Devan Hill added nine for the Springers. Omari Vaughan-Nelson was also in double figures for the Rebels with 10 points.
Highland Springs 15 15 21 21 – 72
Douglas Freeman 12 20 5 16 – 53
Highland Springs (2-0): Daniel 14, Starke 16, Hill 9, Mills 6, Winfield 8, Hilliard 8, Henderson 2, Parham 9. Totals: 18 12-21 72. 3-point goals: Daniel 3, Hill 3, Mills, Parham.
Douglas Freeman (1-1): Eastman 20, Brinkley 12, Vaughan-Nelson 10, Mann 6, Vitello 2, Smalley, Giles, Jackson. Totals: 13 15-25 53. 3-point goals: Eastman 2, Mann 2.
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