The West Lowdnes High School boys basketball team rolled to an 86-50 victory against Lumberton on Tuesday night in the opening round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 1A tournament.
West Lowndes’ early defensive stops halted Lumberton’s usual shooting dynamic. The Panthers’ man-to-man defense, rebounding, and second-chance points from Darrius Hawkins helped them pull away and set up a second-round matchup against Mount Olive on Saturday night in Columbus. The winner will advance to the state quarterfinals in Jackson.
Devon Chandler’s consistent performance also helped West Lowndes stay on course to get back to Jackson. Last season, West Lowndes lost to Ashland 60-49 in the state title game. The Panthers are poised to return to the “Big House” despite losing the five starters from last season’s team to graduation or transfer along with head coach Danny Crawford, who is now the boys basketball coach at Noxubee County High in Macon.
The losses haven’t diminished the Panthers’ passion to get back to Jackson and take the final step.
“We are dominant when we hit our shots,” Chandler said. “When we play together by distributing the ball and having fun we’re a pretty hard team to beat.”
West Lowndes limited Lumberton’s Erron Joseph to 16 points by crowding him and denying him shooting space. Lumberton tried to adjust, but West Lowndes’ offense proved to be too much. West Lowndes junior point guard C.J. Smith Jr. said the team’s plan to use its offense and defense to wear down Lumberton worked.
“Our message today was to stay on top,” Smith said. “Our offensive style was to basically run the court and not let the other team stay up on defense while we score. We had to wear them down.”
Smith Jr. and Quay Sanders combined for 28 of West Lowndes’ 45 points in the first half. Defensive powerhouse Darrius Hawkins worked his way into the paint to provide additional scoring in the Panthers’ push to a 45-23 halftime lead.
West Lowndes first-year head coach Torrey Dale said the Panthers have adjusted to the postseason rush. He said a regular-season schedule that included a healthy dose of games against Class 5A and 6A schools prepared the team for a run at a district title.
Dale, who won a state championship at Class 1A Durant High in 2005, said West Lowndes’ goals this season are the same as last season, even if the names have changed.
“I told them we’re going for last season’s unfinished business,” Dale said. “We’re going to defeat any tough postseason matchups and get the job done. We’re not running.”
Dale hopes to use the experience he gained from his championship journey to help the Panthers complete their mission. He believes the team has the ability to erase the sting of last season’s loss.
“I felt I could come and relate to them as a player before a coach,” Dale said. “For us to go back with virtually only one or two vital pieces from last year itself is a blessing. It speaks volume on the dedication and talent these new guys have. They’re beginning to reap the fruits of their labor.”
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