Yoe continues to win with playoffs on the line

Rogers

For Cameron to get into the postseason for the first time since the 2010-2011 season, a win over the Rogers Eagles at Yoe Gym was of the utmost importance. 

The Yoemen had fallen to the Eagles on the road earlier this year, 61-57, and needed to pick up a win to at the worst stay tied with the Hearne Eagles.

Cameron struggled offensively a good portion of the game, and trailed 29-23 entering the final period.  However, Cameron closed the final eight minutes on a 21-9 run to pick up a critical 44-38 win.

The Yoemen defense, which has propelled the team into its current position, came through in a contest where neither team had much offensive consistency.

“If we would play like we did in the fourth quarter, we would be fine,” said Glendenning.  “ We play really good defense.  I don’t care what sport it is, defense is going to matter.  That is what is going to get us there.”

The veteran coach credited the play from his bench, which includes guard Jay Shields. 

“I felt Jay did a really good job off the bench.  I felt like he was the sparkplug tonight.  I thought he really ignited us.”

Shields added how important this game was to his team and the role that he played. 

“We keep our heads up the whole time,” said Shields.  We knew how big this game was to us and we all have the same goal and that is why we come out and play our hearts out every night.  Coming off the bench, you have to bring momentum and intensity because the tone is already set.  You have to raise the tone.”

Kevondre Wesley tied the game up at 33 with a bucket inside, and on the very next possession gave the Yoemen a 35-34 lead after a pair of free throws.  With three minutes remaining, Cameron never surrendered the lead.

“We decided to change our strategy to attack the zone because they were extending out a little further than normal, which means there were no driving lanes,” said Wesley.  ”Our base line was cut off all night and we had to keep swinging.   I just did my best to make a play for our team to get the lead back.”

Wesley finished with 14 points, including 9 in the fourth.  The senior also had 7 defensive rebounds.  Perez had 15 points, with 9 coming from the three-point line.  Sicory Smith had 7 and LaRondre Booze came in with five. 

Rockdale

Protecting your home court is something that Ed Glendening stressed to his team in the latest win over Rogers.  Cameron did that same thing against Rockdale a month ago, but this time needed to steal one on the road at their archrival. 

It was evident that it was going to be a battle after what had played out in the first half of Tuesday’s road game.  Rockdale was hot from 3-point range, hitting six long-range shots, which in turn led to a 30-22 halftime lead.  The Tigers extended that advantage to 33-22 to start the third, but Cameron stayed poised and went on a 34-14 run in the final 14 minutes for a 56-47 win.

“We told them at halftime that we were making some silly mistakes with turnovers, but don't get your head down,” said Glendenning.  “We were in their face three times, and they hit three 3's.  They made shots and we didn't play bad.”

Cameron managed to create better shots on the offensive end in the second half, and Glendening felt his team’s ball movement was better in those final two quarters.

“We started reversing the ball.  I thought Sicory did a good job of cutting and clearing up lanes.  We when we reverse the ball, we're going to beat people.  When we hold the ball and we are stagnant, we're not. I thought Kevondre, Levi and Danny did a great job of ball reverse from corner to corner.”

Perez led all scorers with 16 points and scored in every period of play for Cameron. 

“We just knew we had to score,” said Perez.  “We were in a little slump, so we had to keep doing what we were doing and they eventually started falling.  We just kept shooting.”

Yoe (7-5) center LaRondre Booze also had a big game, posting 12 points from the field.  “That is all in my team finding me when I'm open,” said Booze.  “I just go in and work hard and try to find the open shot and knock them down.”

Wesley had 7 in the fourth and 10 points overall.  Levi May had 8 and Smith had 4.  Booze had a team-high six rebounds. 

20-3A Scores: Cameron Yoe 56, Rockdale 47; Academy 53, Lexington 45; Hearne 70, Rogers 49; Jarrell 60 Franklin 46.

20-3A Standings (2 games remaining): 1. Jarrell (12-0); 2. Franklin (8-4); 3. Cameron Yoe (7-5); 4. Hearne (6-6); 4. Lexington (6-6); 6. Academy (5-7); 7. Rogers (3-9); 8. Rockdale (1-11). 

Cameron will be on the road at Academy on Friday and will close out the regular season by hosting Jarrell on Tuesday from Yoe Gym.