In March 6-12, 2008 Issue
After being beaten by the 21-7 Metcalfe County Hornets twice earlier in the season, the Mighty Lakers (13-13) held off the Hornets to claim the 16th district tournament championship with a 71-59 win on Friday night.
Back on Jan. 3, the Hornets blasted the Lakers 77-41 and on Feb. 8 Metcalfe beat the Lakers 80-69 but last week the district’s team to beat met its match.
The environment inside Laker Gym was crazy as both Laker and Hornet fans screamed and cheered the teams on. The home crowd was the loudest it had been since he was accepted the job, according to Laker Coach Willie Feldhaus.
“Our kids deserve it,” he said.
“This is what all the hard work is for,” Feldhaus said. “It’s not that fun unless you get to experience moments like this.”
“It’s not an October 15 through the end of February thing, its pretty much year-round anymore and I’m just happy they get to experience these good times.”
Feldhaus said being able to play on both Tuesday and Friday nights was nice because it was the nights they usually played on and didn’t have to get out of the normal routine to conduct practice.
Feldhaus lauded the play of his players after one of his biggest wins as a head coach.
“Bryon Ellis was able to get his 1,000th point … he just does everything for us,” Feldhaus said. “He has started every game for us since I’ve been at Russell County and I don’t look forward to the day of playing without him.”
Feldhaus said Senior big man Timmy Coffey was his choice for the most improved player in the district.
“The last two or three games he has been a man inside and has had a double-double both district tournament games,” he said.
The team’s sophomores, “Robbie Bell, Bryson McFall, Lucas Justice, Adam Justice and those guys are giving us big minutes and contributing for us.”
Feldhaus said he was looking forward to the two more years he had with those guys as the program continues to grow under his guidance.
“I’m just so happy for these kids,” he said.
Scoring for the Lakers was Bryon Ellis with 27 points (he also joined the elite 1,000 point club), Robbie Bell with 21, Timmy Coffey with 14, Lucas Justice with six points and Bryson McFall with three points.
Making the All-District team was Josh Popplewell, Bryson McFall, Robbie Bell, Bryon Ellis and Timmy Coffey.
The Lakers travel to Bowling Green on March 5 for a matchup with the 16-12 Glasgow Scotties at Diddle Arena.
