Aggressive Gators take control, cruise past Eagles

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on February 6, 2009 1:46 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS --Spring Creek finally finished what it started.

Lucas Potter pumped in 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Gators upended Rosewood 60-48 in the completion of a suspended Class 1-A Carolina Conference boys' basketball game.

A leaky roof in the gymnasium suspended play on Jan. 27 and the game was moved again due to Wednesday morning's snowstorm.

When the teams took the floor Thursday evening, Spring Creek (6-11 overall, 4-3 Carolina) played the aggressor role. The Gators pounded the ball inside and used a significant size advantage to build a 31-22 halftime lead.

The Eagles (4-14, 1-6) remained within striking distance by crashing the offensive glass in the third period. However, Spring Creek answered with a 9-1 run on the strength of Dontay Boseman's four consecutive points. Boseman wound up with a team-high 14 points.

"Dontay was really big for us tonight, his energy and his defense were key," said Spring Creek head coach Taylor Jones. "He comes off the bench and gives us a lift. When I put him in I expect him to play like another starter."

Trailing 49-33, the Eagles stormed back midway through the fourth quarter behind freshman forward Ahkeem Simms. The lanky post player hit the boards with a vengeance in the period and provoked a 9-3 Eagles' run with an offensive putback.

The Gators proved too tough down the stretch.

Guard Melvin DeVeaux (13 points) made five free throws in the final two minutes and created an opportunity for Anthony Green to ice the contest with a pair of foul shots of his own. Green ended up with eight points and six rebounds.

"Anthony had a really good game both offensively and rebounding on the weakside," said Jones. "Without him, I don't know if we get a win tonight."

Harris led Rosewood's offense with 16 points. Simms supplied a double-double -- 10 points, 12 rebounds. Jacquez Raynor scored six points despite early foul trouble.

"I thought this was one of our better games this season," said Eagles head coach Daniel Mitchell. "I thought our guys came to play and I thought they played extremely hard down the stretch."

The teams meet tonight at Rosewood.

"I think my guys are ready to go, I really think if we could drive out there and play right now they would be up for it," said Mitchell. "We need to do a better job defensively and on the glass if we want to get a win at home."

Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.