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The LMH boys basketball team ended its season with a 69-56 loss to powerhouse Neumann-Goretti in the state quarterfinals. The Blazers held their own against a star-studded line-up that included two top major-college recruits, Quade Green (Kentucky) and Dhamir Crosby-Roundtree (Villanova). The vaunted N-G squad included tall and powerful Marcus Littles (6’9).
Despite their huge height advantage, N-G was forced to rely on a flurry of three-pointers — while taking away LM’s own potent long-range shooting –- to bury the Blazers in a wild fourth quarter. Despite a considerable disadvantage in height and weight, LMH’s biggest man, Javan Terry (6’3) had the biggest night of anyone, scoring 21 points.
“I love the fact they played bigger than their size,” Coach Groff said. “Somebody said at some point this season we don’t strike any fear in anybody’s heart when we get off the bus but when they step on the floor they play big. And they play big together.”
The Blazers jumped to an early 6-0 lead. With three minutes to play in the third quarter, Mennonite was ahead 43-41. Going into the fourth quarter, N-G had a slim 51-49 lead. But the fourth quarter belonged to N-G. Although the Blazers were able to thwart the giants in the paint, N-G drained five three-pointers in the second half to break the game open.
LMH held N-G to the lowest point total in the playoffs and scored the most against them.
