Drew Maynard took a lot of hits, but it was his back that was sorest after he carried Lake Orion to a 69-64 victory over Pontiac Central last Friday night.
Maynard scored 20 of his career-high 48 points in the fourth quarter. He added 16 rebounds for the Dragons, who improved to 8-8 on the season.
‘I thought I had 20 or something, I’m not even lying,? Maynard said. ‘It was a tough game, but it gives us good momentum going forward with the rest of our league games and districts. Hopefully we can build on that.?
All eyes were on Maynard before the game, during his signing ceremony for Oakland University, and they stayed on him throughout.
He scored 23 points in the first half, outscoring Central by himself and helping the Dragons to a 35-22 lead.
But the third quarter script looked similar to Lake Orion’s loss on Tuesday against Southfield, as the visitors stormed back.
An impressive reverse dunk from Maynard, while being fouled, brought even the Central fans to their feet and put LO up 44-30.
Capitalizing on eight Dragons turnovers in the quarter, Central closed the last four minutes of the quarter on a 13-0 run. They finally took the lead early in the fourth quarter.
‘The third quarter looked like instant replay,? Coach Jim Manzo said, referring to earlier in the week. ‘We talked in a timeout and said, ‘what did we learn? We’re dribbling too much through the press.? I said this is just the adversity that this team needed, and they responded.?
In last Tuesday’s key OAA II contest, Southfield overcame a 10-point halftime deficit. Maynard scored just eight of his game-high 26 points in the second half. Chris Lum added nine points and 10 rebounds.
Marcus Hopkins scored 16 of his team-high 20 after halftime for Southfield. The Bluejays got 18 points from Bowling Green-bound Austin Calhoun.
Southfield erased their halftime deficit with a 16-2 spurt in less than four minutes, and held off a few Lake Orion rallies in the closing minutes to improve to 8-1 in league action (10-6 overall).
At press time, both teams had three league tilts remaining, and Southfield can end Lake Orion’s consecutive league title streak by winning out.
‘They turned up the heat defensively,? Coach Jim Manzo said of Southfield’s second half approach. ‘They were waiting to double the ball when we came over half court. We definitely looked uncomfortable with the ball, and that’s a little surprising.?
‘The turnovers that lead to lay-ups are killers, and that’s what happened today,? he added.
But against Central, Maynard kept the Dragons close by scoring his team’s first 14 points of the quarter. With just over two minutes left, and LO trailing 62-60, Maynard was intentionally fouled on a dunk attempt. He made one of two free throw attempts and then scored on a put-back on the ensuing possession to give the Dragons the lead for good.
An Anthony Fields lay-in with 1:15 left, put Lake Orion up 67-64, and Maynard and Vinnie Booker each hit a free throw in the final minute to cap the scoring.
Reed Losee had five assists off the bench and Jeff Heath had five steals for the Dragons, but the talk afterwards was all about Maynard.
‘There were so many gutsy performances turned in tonight, starting with Drew,? Manzo said. ‘That was one of the best high school performances I’ve seen. He put his team on his back and it was fun to watch.?
‘He’s pretty banged up, but he was determined,? Manzo added.
Game notes?
*The Dragons played without Chris Lum, who missed the game after injuring an ankle against Southfield.
*Drew Hopkins led Pontiac Central with 21 points, including 15 after halftime.
*Maynard went 13 of 24 at the free throw line and 5 of 10 from three-point range.
*A 13-1 run in the second helped Lake Orion to a double-digit lead and Maynard hit three three-pointers in the final 1:30 of the first half.
*Maynard’s 48-point effort was just five shy of the school record, set over 40 years ago.
*Maynard dedicated his performance to Anthony and Sammy Taormina, who celebrated their 21st birthdays Friday.