BLYTHEWOOD (Feb. 20, 2017) – Blythewood head coach Zeke Washington knew the Bengals had to find a way to get around Summerville’s post players, Shaq Davis and Jonathan Bennett.
As it turned out, all the Blythewood had to do was run their usual lineup out on the floor and let them play.
With Tre Jackson, Kameron Riley, Keith Matthews, Jonathan Breeland and Khalil Shakir-Harris in the starting lineup, Blythewood moved up and down the court at a frenetic pace.
Davis, a 5A all-state selection who averages 17.8 points per game, and Bennett, who averages 15 points, proved to be of little concern for the Bengals, who breezed past them and smoked the Green Wave 84-39 Saturday in the second round of the 5A playoffs
“Shaq is a good player, very athletic, but we figured we could neutralize him if we played full court,” Washington said. “That’s what we naturally do anyway, so we got the game going up and down, and he had to run with us and we were able to wear him down.”
Jackson led the way with 17 points. Riley had 16 points, and Matthews turned in a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
“I just wanted to win,” Matthews said, adding the team’s task was neutralizing Summerville’s key players. “He’s a good player, and I had to do whatever I had to do to slow him down.”
Summerville had 19 turnovers, and Blythewood camped out under the boards, which allowed the Bengals nearly complete control of the game. Blythewood outrebounded Summerville 39-29, made 13 thefts, blocked three shots, and held Davis to 13 points and Bennett to three.
“I had to keep him from turning middle (jump shots). He likes to do that,” Riley said about defending Davis, who had only one defensive rebound all game. “I kept him from going over shoulders (to get at a loose ball) and put a forearm on him every time the ball went up.”
He also credited Matthews with helping to sweep Summerville defenders out of the way
Keith, he can do it all, it doesn’t matter what it is, scoring, rebounding, defense. He’s just an all-around good guy to have.”
Blythewood (21-5) faces a familiar opponent in the third round, Region V-5A rival Lexington. The Wildcats upset higher seeded Sumter 71-62 Saturday, and the Bengals host them Tuesday for the right to move on to the Lower State final the Saturday at the Florence Civic Center.
Lexington, which lost twice to the Bengals, 64-47 Jan. 10 and 61-45 Feb. 3, are quite capable of pulling off an upset, Washington said.
“It’s hard to beat a team three times,” Washington said. “They really play for their coach. They’re a very, very good team.”
The Bengals went directly to work against Summerville (15-11). Bennett’s 3-pointer put the Green Wave to within 9-8 of the Bengals three minutes in, and there was a hint that the game would continue to be close.
Bennett’s 3-pointer was the only time he scored in the game.
Blythewood then closed out the first quarter on a 15-2 run, capped with a Riley layup at the buzzer that gave the Bengals a 24-10 lead going into the second quarter. A 19-10 second had Blythewood up 43-20 at the half.
The Bengals took a 67-35 lead by the end of the third quarter, and had a 79-35 lead with 5 minutes left, when Blythewood had all bench players running the court.
Boosted by transition dunks and layups, Blythewood shot 34-for-58, to Summerville’s 16-for-58.
The ease of Saturday night’s victory doesn’t mean the Bengals will be letting up in the postseason.
“We just can’t relax,” he said. “I feel better when the game is over, but I’ll be watching film tonight.”
Blythewood 84, Summerville 39
Summerville 10 10 15 4 — 39
Blythewood 24 19 24 17 — 84
Summerville
Shaq Davis 13, Mazyck 6, Banks 5, McFadden 5, Capers 3, Bennett 3, Larry 2, Jeffords 2.
Blythewood
Tre Jackson 17, Kameron Riley 16, Keith Matthews 13, Breeland 8, Bailey 7, Braswell 7, Shakir-Harris 6, Bowers 4, Thompson 3, Johnson 2, Williams 1.