published: Friday, February 01, 2013

Leesburg takes down Tavares in tourney opener

MARK FISHER

Special to the Daily Commercial

LEESBURG -- The Leesburg High School boys basketball team slammed the door on any thoughts of a comeback by Tavares with a 12-2 run to open the fourth period in a 76-55 win Wednesday at the Lake-Sumter Championship at Leesburg.

The game opened at a frenetic pace as both squads extended the full court press for much of the first period causing both teams into turnovers and creating steal opportunities. But neither team could convert in the early going as they combined to shoot 27 percent from the arc until Leesburg finally settled down and got into their set offense. Solid ball movement gave them good looks at the basket and they had a 21-8 advantage at the end of the first period.

Sloppy play and turnovers returned when play resumed as neither team could handle the offensive tempo. Tavares (5-15) found their balance first and reeled off an 8-1 run to narrow the margin to 22-16 before the Yellow Jackets (22-3) gathered their composure and re-asserted control to push the lead back to 37-22 at the half.

Tavares refused to wilt, however, and returned from intermission determined to make it a real contest and again went on an 8-0 run spurred by three-straight turnovers by Leesburg. But they could get no closer as the Yellow Jackets stung them for 22 points and led 59-39 after three periods and then hit them with the early run in the final period for a convincing victory.

Undra Mitchem lead all scorers with 27. Teammates Quay Royster and Troy Willis both chipped in 12 apiece as 10 Jackets contributed to the final score.

Osirus Munn paced Tavares with 17 points. Coy Paterson joined him in double figures with 10.

In other games Wednesday, East Ridge bounced Wildwood 81-46, Lake Minneola hammered Mount Dora 75-49 and Mount Dora Bible stopped South Lake 65-43.

The tournament moves to Mount Dora Bible for today's second-round games and Friday's play.

Today's matchups include: Mount Dora vs. South Lake at 3:15 p.m., Wildwood vs. Tavares at 4:45 p.m., Lake Minneola vs. Mount Dora Bible at 6:15 p.m., and Leesburg vs. East Ridge at 7:45 p.m.