Aug. 9, 2008 — The Choices Basketball Association defending champions Hoyas looked liked a well-oiled machine Friday night in dismantling the Lakers, 93-76, to even the CBA finals at one game apiece.
The Hoyas looked good from the start at the St. Croix Central High gym, running the floor, filling the lanes, dishing out crisp passes and playing excellent defense. And the young Lakers who looked great in taking game one on Wednesday came out a little flat and found themselves down early.
Darnell "Burger" Hendricks had a huge game for the Hoyas as he led them offensively with a game-high 31 points, but the big difference in the game could very well have been Anthony "Stickman" Theodore.
Inserted into the starting line up because of late arriving players, Theodore took full advantage of his opportunity. The 12 points he scored was a great but his overall contribution for the Hoyas on Friday was immeasurable. He played staunch defense, he crashed the boards on both ends of the floor and kept a lot of balls alive with his great hustle before fouling out late in the game. "The Stickman" deserved Friday night’s game ball.
Coach Samuel Lee acknowledged Theodore's inspiring play but said it was a total team effort that started with execution. "I told them to move the ball around, make true passes and play defense," Lee said. "If they get down, do not lose your head, stay calm — things will work out."
The Hoyas engineered an 8-0 run to start the game and led 10-4 at the 7:19 mark. The lead was still six at 19-13 with 1:18 left when the Hoyas went on a 6-0 run to close out the quarter with a 12-point lead at 25-13. Hendricks, looking much healthier than in previous games, burned the nets for 11 points in the period to spark his team.
Things got a little testy in the early going of the second quarter, but after the Lakers Coach Calvin Burke was shown the gate by the refs with two technical fouls for arguing a call, his Lakers did not fold. Instead, riding the hot hands of Robert Duck and Raol Ceasar, they responded by outscoring the Hoyas 19-10 over the next few minutes.
After Duck capped the run with a thunderous dunk, the Lakers were within three points at 35-32. It would be as close as they would get in the game.
The second half was anticlimactic as the Hoyas never let the Lakers get closer than seven. With little in assistance from most of his teammates, Duck tried hard to keep his team in the game but the Hoyas were running too well. A 13-4 run to start the third quarter by the Hoyas and they had their biggest lead of 19 points at 61-42.
A 15-7 run by the Lakers got the lead down to 11 points at the end of the third quarter at 68-57.
Four straight points by Duck to start the fourth quarter and the Lakers were now down seven points at 68-61. But the Hoyas responded right away with an 8-0 run and the lead was quickly back up to 15 points with 5:25 left in the game. The Lakers would cut into the lead again and it was 10 points at 81-71 after two free throws by Shane Hodge. But the Hoyas outscored the Lakers 12-5 the rest of the way to knot the series at one game apiece with the 93-76 victory.
According to interim Lakers coach Danley Petersen, "We came out a little flat, but the Hoyas also played a good game. There were some calls that I feel could have gone our way but I am not going to blame it all on that. I think the Hoyas played like they wanted it more than we do."
The Hoyas also got 19 points from the all-around Karl "Mike Jones" John, and Andre "50" McIntosh dropped in 10. The Lakers were led by the high-flying Duck with 24 points. Hodge and Ceasar netted 12 and 10 points respectively for the Lakers.
