The snowy weather of last week forced Westfield basketball to play two GISA Region 2-AAA dates back-to-back over the weekend. So instead of Jan. 28, the Hornets went to Macon on Saturday to face Stratford Academy.
If the Eagles were still feeling frustrated stings from losing the 2013 state football championship by three points to the Hornets, they let some of it loose on the hardwood. One of those football players who had multiple touchdowns in the finals, Jonathan Hefner, had 21 points in a 71-57 win. Sophom*ore guard Quintez Cephus led all scorers with 23.
For Westfield, Ryan Fitzpatrick was 7-for-9 from the floor for 16 points. William Amos also had a good shooting percentage, 60, for 14 points to go with seven rebounds. Point guard Markese Watkins sunk three field goals (five attempts) and three foul shots for nine points.
Stratford won the game in the first half, leading 40-27 at the break.
It was the first loss in region play for Jake Walls’ club. It had two previous wins against a newcomer, Young American’s, and against its more familiar foe, Tattnall Square. The Hornets gained their own bit of payback in a 69-63 final at home Friday. The Trojans ended the 2013 calendar winning its Christmas tournament championship over Westfield.
A big reason for that first victory was Tattnall Square’s big presence in the middle, Will Trevitt. He was a force again in Perry leading all players with 24 points. Aubrien Kemp, also of the Trojans, was No. 2 in the game with 19 points.
But there were four Hornets in double figures, guard Griffin Elmore at the top with 18 points. Watkins controlled the flow of the offense and threw in 15 points. Scoring 11 each were Fitzpatrick and Amos, who also grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked four shots (all in the second half). It was also a big night for Micah Moore with his nine points and four steals.
Moore’s first theft turned into an assist for Watkins and basket for Elmore. That tied the game 7-7, but the Trojans built their biggest lead by running off seven in a row. Tyven Rogers sank three 3-pointers and Trevitt had two field goals as it became a 14-7 game.
Rogers would not make another 3 the rest of the night.
Walls saw his troops rely on good old-fashioned team defense to turn the game around, and at just 2:33 of the first Elmore connected on a trey. That was part of a tying 7-0 run, and it was running by Fitzpatrick for a lay-up that leveled things at 14-all.
Westfield stopped Tattnall Square three times in a row, but couldn’t stop a go-ahead break. Fitzpatrick’s 3-ball and Trevitt’s put-back of a 3 highlighted a hectic end to the period that was still even, 18-18.
Trevitt would put back three more offensive rebounds in the second quarter and stick an elbow-range jumper. Westfield fans had to endure numerous near misses, but hustle paid off from reserve Gavin Edmondson. He kept a possession alive near mid-court for Amos to feed Fitzpatrick.
Moore later passed up on a shot, deferring to Elmore’s hot hand. That gave the Hornets a 3, and on a high-low play Moore earned his reward converting a pass from Amos.
The difference maker for halftime turned out to be Watkins. His three-point play from a dribble drive made it 33-32 for hosts at the break.
When the score was tied 36-36, the Hornets took the lead for good. Running the floor and spreading the floor were the keys to Westfield’s production, starting with a long rebound taken by Fitzpatrick. He lobbed the ball ahead to Elmore to get the go-ahead basket. Watkins turned a Moore steal into 2, and on the next drive he lobbed the ball inside to Amos.
To end the third quarter, the Hornets outscored Tattnall Square 10-1. Moore hustled after an offensive board and scored, and it was that spread offense that allowed Watkins to get in for 2 and find John Bard open for 3. Westfield led 52-39 going into the fourth.
Trevitt was quiet during the third but started the fourth on his fifth put-back. Westfield was up by 15 before the Trojans made their serious push. They cut it to 10 off a takeaway at 4:28 and 58-50 on a second turnover at 4:14. The Trojans also blocked a shot and had five total takeaways in a streak that saw them score 11 straight (58-52).
Fitzpatrick ended the run with 2:39 to play. At 1:31, it was 60-57. The Hornets would hit seven foul shots, and Fitzpatrick got his team past the press for an assist to Elmore.
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