Strong Second Half Propels Lockport To Clarence Tourney Title

The Lockport High School boys basketball team likes to play up-tempo. But the first half of Friday night’s championship game in the Clarence Holiday Tournament was probably a little too fast.

The Lions got things under control in the second half and escaped a challenge from over the Transit Road rival Red Devils and left with a 76-68 win.

“We don’t mind that speed but sometimes we get a little ahead of ourselves. We just had to keep it back and slow down a little bit.” Lockport coach David Gilson said. “In the second half, I thought we played a little bit more balanced offensively and defensively. Clarence went on a 12-0 run late in the second quarter to take a three-point lead. But the Lion scored the final six points of the first half and then took control in the third, building a lead as much as 11.

“We just had better execution in the second half,” Lockport senior Tavon Chambers said. “We played much better defense and we moved the ball better on offense.”

Chambers scored 10 of his 16 points in the decisive second half. He was named tournament MVP for his efforts – but was quick to deflect the glory.

It’s great but it’s a team award,” he said. “Everybody on the team was an MVP.”

Malik Brooks scored 27 points for Lockport to lead all players. Chambers added 16 and Cordel McDowell 12 for the Lions (6-2).

Up 37-35 after an entertaining first half, Lockport took charge in the third quarter, winning the frame 20-11. The Red Devils got as close as five in the fourth but couldn’t get over the hump.

“I just thought we were more balanced in the second half, offensively and defensively,” Gilson said. “We were better rebounding; they killed us in the first half on the boards. We just had to slow things down and got more adjusted.”

The Red Devils (3-5), had five players in double figures, Jake Randall led the way with 15 points, while Joe Oliveri contributed 13, Jake Reger and Jack Putney tossed in 12 each and River Reinhardt added 11.

“That a game where I can’t go in and yell and scream,” Clarence coach Doug Ratka said. “I’m happy with how hard we played; we just couldn’t overcome our own mistakes. We scrimmaged those guys earlier in the year and I’m not even going to talk about “the scrimmage.” So to lose to a real good Lockport team by single-digits, I can’t be too upset. That’s not the result we wanted, but we’re getting better.”