Sparkman handles Hazel Green to win Area 15
Hazel Green's Ethan Stair shoots against Sparkman photo by Jeffrey Hall
As has been the case all season, a different player had the hot hand to lead Sparkman to their biggest win this season and the Area 15 title before a jam-packed gym Monday night. Justin Garrett came off the bench to score 16 points three days after Rakiya Battle had led the Senators to a victory over Bob Jones.
The 67-61 win means Sparkman will host a sub-regional game against James Clemens on Friday night Feb. 15 with the winner advancing to the Northwest Regional at Wallace State. The loser’s season will be over.
Sparkman had to overcome a career night by Lewis Sullivan who poured in 29 points and hit seven three-point shots.
But it was Garrett who scored eight straight points in the fourth quarter to extend Sparkman’s lead to 64-48 and put away the Trojans.
“With this team any given night some guy can lead us in scoring,” Garrett said. “It just happened to be my night in the second half. I just tried to come in and give our team a big lift. My teammates did a good job finding me on the court. I struggled in the first half and I wanted to have a big second half and help us win.”
Garrett is a senior who has accepted his role of coming off the bench this season and averaged 10 points per game.
“Justin has been a solid player for us this year and he stepped up tonight,” said Sparkman coach Jaime Coggins. “He got to the rim, made some big three-point shots and defensively played well.”
Hazel Green led early and had a 17-15 lead after one quarter. Sparked by Devin Hankins steal and score, Sparkman’s 10-0 run gave them a 34-26 lead at halftime.
The closest Hazel Green got in the second half was 55-48 after a Lewis Sullivan baseline jumper. The 6-foot-7 swing man had a career night but Sparkman held Austin Dempsey to only 4 points. Dempsey had 23 against Buckhorn in the opening round.
“We were contesting some of those shots but they were big time shots,” Coggins said of Sullivan. “He’s one of the best players in the state. Dempsey is one of their best players so to shut him down was big for us.”
Sparkman’s balanced scoring included 15 for Hankins, 13 by William Crowell, and 10 for Jason Russell. Sparkman stayed aggressive on offense until late in the game.
“We are an uptempo team and when we get a lead we stay aggressive because that is our style of play. If we slow down too much it takes our guys out of their rhythm,” Coggins said.
