The Lorain Titans showcased their talents and executed their game plan to perfection as they beat the Maple Heights Mustangs, 82-58, in Lake Erie League conference play on Dec. 18.
“These kind of games kind of worry you when you think you have the better team. You worry about the energy, the focus and again, I think we have a bunch of veteran guys who know how to play the game of basketball and play the right way,” Lorain coach John Rositano said. “I thought we came out with energy and I thought we pretty much took care of business in the first quarter. You can’t let teams hang around on the road because as the game goes on, they start playing with confidence and maybe start playing a little bit over our heads.”
Trailing, 4-3, to begin the game, Lorain went on a 13-3 spurt that was sparked by Daviere Andrews, who nailed back-to-back triples from the corner.
“I was very confident. I knew I was going to hit it just by the way I was set. Anytime I’m in a rhythm, I’m automatic,” Andrews said.
Andrews finished with 19 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Lorain’s strong start to the game transitioned into second quarter dominance which included back-to-back jaw-dropping alley-oop dunks by Anfernee Smothers that put the exclamation point on a hefty halftime lead. Lorain outscored Maple Heights, 31-18, and was ahead, 51-29, at the break.
Smothers finished the game with 14 points and was a presence defensively, swatting three shots and grabbing eight rebounds.
“When Smothers is playing like that we’re really, really elite and that it’s going to take a really great basketball team to beat us when you’re 6-8 guy is playing like a man out there,” Rositano said. “He’s capable. He’s not consistent with it yet but we see a lot of spurts and we’ve seen a lot more of that a lot moving forward. When he plays like that it makes the Andrewses, the Bohannons (Naz), the Littles (Jalil) so much better.”
Bohannon had a game-high 21 points and notched a double-double by snatching 11 rebounds. Kevin Davis was the fourth starter who reached double-digits in points as he chipped in with 11. He also had three rebounds and three assists.
Alfonse Hale had a team-high 16 points for Maple Heights and Lawrence Sumbry scored 13 and had four rebounds and two steals.
Lorain improves to 5-0 and 2-0 in the LEL as Maple Heights falls to 3-3 and 1-1 in the conference.
Up next for the Titans is a much-anticipated game as they host North Olmsted Dec. 22, which is 7-0 after a 92-82 win against Amherst on Dec. 18. Lorain faced North Olmsted last season and won on the Eagles’ home court, 88-75.
“It was great, it was another conference win. We’re defending our league championship and going into a game against North Olmsted. It’s a great confidence builder. They want us, we want them. We’re both undefeated. It should be a showdown Tuesday,” Bohannon said.
