Laneville’s Late Pressure Propels Yellowjackets to 51-50 Victory Over Central Heights in Tenaha Holiday Hoops Fifth-Place Game

TENAHA -- Laneville coach Hosea Lee loves playing pressure defense, and the Yellowjackets' penchant for deflections came up big in overtime against Central Heights.

Laneville disrupted Central Heights' final possession of OT with pressure defense that forced three consecutive scrambles for loose balls, wasting all but five of the final 30 seconds to propel Laneville to a 51-50 win in Saturday's Tenaha Holiday Hoops tournament boys fifth-place game.

"The last few (possessions) we changed it up a little and went to a box-and-1 on (Central Heights' guard Tanner Garner) because he was just getting to the rack at will," Lee said. "We stuck Anthony Roberts on him and told him, 'Hey, you've got him man-to-man, and everyone else is gonna play zone.' It kinda affected them down the stretch and I thought it was the difference in the game."

Garner got loose after a scramble for the ball with a second left for a clean right-wing look at a game-winning three-pointer, but drew iron. Garner, an all-tournament selection, scored a game-high 21 points and had three assists and three steals.

Laneville (14-6) fought back from a 32-22 third-quarter deficit to get the win. Sophomore standout Ty Johnson got hot to lead the third-quarter comeback, scoring six consecutive points during a 10-1 run that helped the Jackets tie the game 35-35 going to the fourth.

Johnson, an all-tournament selection, had 17 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks. Eleven of his points came after halftime, and his pullup 18-footer from the top of the key tied the game 50-50 with 1:27 left in overtime.

Laneville's Kendrick Anderson split a pair of free throws for the lead, 51-50, with 36.1 seconds remaining, turning the game over to the hands of the Jacket defense. Anderson had 17 points, while guard Dontavious Harris had 16 points.

Central Heights junior post Keaton Fontentot had 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Harrison Perkins added nine points and nine boards for the Blue Devils (11-11). Central Heights led 15-4 after one quarter, but Laneville responded, cutting the deficit to 19-15 by halftime.

Both teams boast rosters with only one senior. Lee said winning a close game against a quality opponent in a tournament as high-profile as Tenaha Holiday Hoops gives his team a taste of what they can expect in the postseason.

"You look at our six losses and we lost to LaPoynor by two points at their place, we lost to San Augustine by two points at their place," Lee said. "As young as we are, we just keep fighting and keep battling. These kids got hearts of lions. ... I like this team, I like where we're going, and I think we'll have a chance."

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Tenaha Holiday Hoops
Boys Fifth-Place Game

1A  D-II No. 7 Laneville 51, Central Heights 50 (OT)

Special Events Center, Tenaha

Central Heights -- 15 4 16 13 2 -- 50
Laneville -- 4 11 20 13 3 -- 51

Central Heights (11-11) -- Tanner Garner 21, Keaton Fontenot 15, Harrison Perkins 9, Blake Jordan 5.
Laneville (14-6) -- Ty Johnson 17, Kendrick Anderson 17, Dontavious Harris 16, Tralon Alexander 1.