Gators pull away in final 5-plus minutes

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 17, 2014 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Taylor Jones might not have been completely satisfied Tuesday evening, but he walked away pleased for two reasons.

One, the Gators finally showed some mental toughness.

Two, SC is 1-0 in Carolina 1-A Conference play.

Gary Williams led three Gators in double figures with 21 points in a 62-45 conquest of Lakewood on Tuesday evening. Brandon Gonzalez added 16 points and Jordan Hicks provided a double-double -- 14 points, 10 rebounds.

"I thought our ball movement was pretty good. I thought our shot selection was pretty good," SC head coach Taylor Jones said. "I thought the second half we saw the floor a lot better. I was really pleased with our defensive effort, took them out of a lot of things they really wanted to do."

Especially score.

The Gators held the Leopards to a single field goal during the final 51/2 minutes of the game. The scoring drought allowed Spring Creek to turn a two-possession game into a double-digit advantage after Lakewood climbed to within 44-38 on Willie Herring's 3-pointer off of Michael Graham's steal and assist.

Williams thrived from the perimeter. Gonzalez attacked the basket and Hicks, at times, either cleaned up underneath or scored off of assists from Tre Hammonds. The trio combined for 18 fourth-quarter points.

"The fourth quarter, if we're up, I'm not going to say we're always going to win, but we feel comfortable with the position we're in," Taylor said. "We have enough ball-handlers out there (and) I don't know who you want to pressure. We're able to score in a variety of ways."

Hammonds played his normal floor game -- five points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one blocked shot. Spring Creek had 16 team assists on 26 made field goals and dominated the glass 41-24.

The Gators (6-2 overall, 1-0 CC) entertain Hobbton on Thursday.