Boys Basketball
Lexington Catholic surges past Wheeler, 66-57


  



Tue, Dec 21, 2010 @ Iolani


Final 1 2 3 4  
Wheeler 15 17151057
Lexington Catholic 16 18 9 2366
T. Martin 24 pts  1 3pm
N. Snipes 15 pts
Taylor Martin scored 11 straight unanswered points in a late span of 2 minutes, 36 seconds Tuesday night to help Lexington (Ky.) Catholic surge past Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 66-57, for fifth place in the 27th Annual 'Iolani Prep Classic.

Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), ranked No. 1 in the nation by ESPN Rise and USA Today, defeated No. 25 (by USA Today) Montverde (Fla.), 58-44, for the championship. In the third-place game, USA Today No. 14 Mount Vernon (N.Y.) topped ESPN Rise No. 45 Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.), 69-57.

Despite Tuesday night's loss, and an all-day rainstorm that canceled a planned Sunday visit to Pearl Harbor, Wheeler coach Doug Lipscomb said the 4,500-mile journey to Hawai'i was well worth it.

"I liked the hospitality, there's very good teams here, and the tournament is well-run and very organized," Lipscomb said. "Going 2-2, I'm not pleased or satisfied, but this tournament is a good test and lets you find out where you are. You live and learn, and it's to make you better."

Last night's defeat certainly left the Wildcats with plenty to think about on the long plane ride back home.

Wheeler took a 53-50 lead on Charles Mitchell's three-point play with 5:56 remaining, but did not score again until Tevin Reeves hit one of two free throws with 37 seconds left. In the meantime, Martin -- a 6-foot-5 guard/forward who plans to play baseball for the University of Kentucky next year -- basically took over the game with impressive scoring inside and out.

His spinning layup move put the Knights ahead, 54-53, with 4:43 remaining, and he followed it with a three-point play before burying a 3-pointer from the left corner. Martin then sank free throws at the 3:07 and 2:07 marks to eventually make it 63-53 with 53 seconds left.

"I've known Taylor since he was three years old, so I know the way he's been built up," Lexington Catholic coach Brandon Salsman said. "He's like a point forward for us, he does it all."

Salsman said Martin had offers to play basketball at Fairfield University, Eastern Kentucky, Navy and Virginia Commonwealth, but instead wants to explore his future as a pitcher/shortstop.

"His fastball is about 90 mph," Salsman said.

Lipscomb said his team "didn't have anybody to step up" to stop Martin during that crucial stretch.

"When they made their run, we didn't have an answer," Lipscomb said. "On offense, we couldn't get a break."

Martin finished with a game-high 24 points, and Scott Schuette added 18 points for the Knights.

Mitchell and Nigel Snipes each scored 15 points and Karriem Simmons added 14 points for the Wildcats.




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

No. 2 Maryknoll denies No. 4 Punahou to punch ticket to states

The Spartans avenged a nine inning loss to the Buffanblu two days ago and return to the state tournament...

Kamehameha edges Saint Louis to win double elimination tourney

Warriors topped Crusaders in extra innings to force a winner-take-all playoff for overall league championship.

Waialua stuns Kailua in five sets to win first-ever OIA D2 crown

The Bulldogs dropped the first two sets and rallied for the next three to stun the Surfriders for their...

Moanalua fends off Mililani in 5 for fifth straight OIA boys volleyball title

Ezekiel Sablan put down 20 kills, Jaycen Bush tallied 14 and D'Angelo Ross added 13 to lead Na Menehune...

Punahou needs extra innings to top Maryknoll, keep season alive

Buffanblu scored five big runs in to break a 2-2 in the top of the ninth then held off a Spartans' rally...

Higashionna leading the charge for Pearl City; Bautista's emergence a boon for Mililani

The junior second baseman batted 9 for 15 in four OIA tournament games for the Chargers last week, while...