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LENNON'S BUZZER-BEATER GIVES HILLSIDE TITLE
Published on: 12/22/2002
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FINAL
Page: C17
By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR.
Staff Writer
Illustration: PHOTO: BW
Caption: Hillside's Kevin Summer defens against McEachern's Josh
Smith during the championship game of the Chick-Fil-A Classic
Saturday at Richland Northeast. SEAN REAYFORD/SPECIAL TO THE STATE
Hillside's Chris Lennon waited 31 minutes to make his presence felt
in the Chick-fil-A Classic finale. When he decided to shoot Saturday
night, he made it count.
Lennon made three shots in the final 1:06, including the game-winner
as the final buzzer sounded. The shot gave the Hornets a 69-68 win
over McEachern and the championship of the inaugural tournament at
Richland Northeast High School.
Hillside's Bobby Perry and Kevin Sumner kept the Hornets within
striking distance as the Indian duo of Josh Smith and Morris Almond
cooled late in the second half. McEachern, of Powder Springs, Ga.,
had stretched a nine-point halftime lead to as many as 15, but the
Durham, N.C., school kept chipping away.
Behind two consecutive 3's from Lennon - his first two shots of the
game-with just over a minute remaining, the Hornets cut the score to
68-64. Brandon Alston added a layup and Perry a free throw to get
within 68-67.
After a missed free throw, Alston brought the ball up court. When
the clocked ticked under five seconds, he made his move to the lane.
As the defense collapsed, Alston kicked it out to Lennon, who took
two dribbles before releasing the ball.
When the shot went through, Lennon was tackled by his teammates.
"Coach was like, 'You guys are intimidated'. I was like, 'I gotta go
out there and do it,' " Lennon said. "I knew we had it in us."
McEachern had three chances in the final minute to ice the game, but
Smith missed two free throws and Almond missed one.
Perry, who was named tournament MVP, led all scorers with 25 points.
M-Morris Almond 23, Josh Smith 17, David Adams 12, Cash 3, Mency 6,
Graziano 5. H-Bobby Perry 25, Kevin Sumner 21, Lennon 8, Alston 7,
McDowell 2, Faison 2, Richardson 2, Pittman 2.
All-tournament team
Jerell Jamison, Brookland-Cayce
Ramon Sessions, Myrtle Beach
Zam Fredrick, Calhoun County
Todd Henley, Lee Senior (Sanford, NC)
Brandon Wallace, Silver Bluff
Eric Priester, Allendal-Fairfax
Darius Lane, Richland Northeast
Randolph Morris, Landmark Christian (Atlanta, Ga.)
Morris Almond, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
Josh Smith, McEachern
Bobby Perry, Hillside (Durham, N.C.) MVP
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