(Lew-Port's Dawson Bailey hit the game-winning '3' / Photo by Paul Battson)

 

Prior to tip on Tuesday night against the Blue Devils, Lew-Port honored Jernard Jackson with a ball to celebrate his scoring of 1,000 points during his career as a Lancer.  Jackson, who scored a WNY 2016 season-high 50 points in a game earlier this season, has been in the spotlight all season for Lew-Port, as he enjoys an excellent senior campaign.  But Jackson was happy to share that spotlight during crunch time on Tuesday night, as he set up his teammate for a career night and a fantastic finish.

 

Dawson Bailey scored a career-high 25 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer off a pass from Jackson with four seconds left, to lift Lew-Port past visiting Kenmore West, 70-67.  The win clinches the #3 seed for the Lancers in the upcoming Class A2 sectionals, after a solid year in the NFL, finishing 9-5 as the league's smallest school.

 

The night didn't get off to the best start at for the Lancers, as they failed to even jump for the opening tip and were behind 2-0 just three seconds into the game.  Kenmore West raced out to a 17-5 lead just past the midway point of the opening quarter, thanks to six early points from Tyler Aquilina & Aaron Tucker, a bucket from Terrell Ford, and a trey from Jay Taylor.  Lew-Port missed several shots in the early going, and the Blue Devils were taking full advantage heading the other direction.

 

"We got some shots, they just didn't fall," Lew-Port coach Matt Bradshaw said.  "We were a little lackluster on defense, we just didn't seem to come out with the intensity – right from the jump ball, they scored a layup."

 

After the Lancers made a defensive switch to zone, the scoring by the Blue Devils slowed, and Lew-Port was able to convert some fast break points and gain some momentum.  Jackson scored six points over the quarter's last three minutes as part of an 8-2 run to close the first, making it 19-13 in favor of the Blue Devils.

 

Having shaken off the slow start, Lew-Port kept things going in the second quarter, opening on a 9-2 tear.  A basket from Bailey with 4:12 left before halftime capped a 17-4 run that brought the Lancers all the way back from a 12-point deficit and gave his team its first lead, 22-21.

 

"We got more active, got more hands in lanes & created some tips," said Bradshaw.  "We wanted to get some transition points and we weren't getting them off our man."

 

The Blue Devils took a one-point lead into the locker rooms at halftime, 29-28, but were not pleased, having just watched Lew-Port storm back into a game they had started with such energy.

 

"At halftime, we talked about hustle stats," Kenmore West coach Mike Meetze said.  "They had 10 offensive rebounds, 10 points off offensive rebounds, got six loose balls to our one, and I said that's the difference gentlemen – you had a chance to  stop the game early, but you gave them a run and the crowd got into it…now we have to battle."

 

An already fun game quickly became a blast as the second half got underway.  One stretch saw three consecutive bombs fall from downtown.  Tyler Aquilina canned a trey for the Blue Devils to put them up 36-34, to which Jackson & Bailey each responded with 3-pointers of their own for Lew-Port for a 40-36 lead.  After Kenmore West got back to within two on a pair of Ford free throws, Jackson piled up seven fast points for the Lancers, including converting an 'And 1', giving his squad a 47-38 lead – their largest of the game.  The Blue Devils came back with an 8-2 finish to the frame to send the game to the fourth quarter favoring Lew-Port, 51-47.

 

The last eight minutes were wild, as both teams played with desperation.  Terrell Ford played like he was on a mission, and scored eight points by the midway point of the fourth, to counter back-to-back 3-pointers from Bailey.  That flurry left the score locked, 59-59.  Lew-Port then built its lead back to six, 65-59, with just 2:45 to go.  

 

After a pair of scores from the Blue Devils, Jackson made it 67-63 for the Lancers with 43 seconds left in the game.  Ford came charging into the lane on the ensuing possession for the Blue Devils and drew contact, sending him to the stripe.  After sinking both to make it a two-point game, Ford earned a steal after Lew-Port inbounded, and Ken West called timeout with 20 ticks remaining.  

 

Out of the timeout, Jay Taylor scored inside for the Blue Devils to tie the game at 67-67, leaving the Lancers time on the clock for a last shot.  Jackson took the ball on Lew-Port's final possession and when Kenmore West looked to help on the Lancers' 1,000 point scorer, he swung the ball to the game's hot hand, Bailey, who let the game-winner go from the left wing to splash home his fifth 3-pointer of the game and 18th point of the half.

 

"Dawson has been our wildcard all year," Bradshaw said.  "When he plays like that, we're tough to beat because they can't focus so much on Jernard."

 

It seemed like a fitting end to an exciting game…something the Blue Devils & Lancers seem to play each time they take the court together.

 

"Every time we play them," said Bradshaw.  "That's exactly what we expected."

 

Jackson finished with a game-high 28 points for the Lancers, while Ford, Aqillina, & Tucker all finished in double figures for Ken West.  Ford scored 10 of his 19 points in the final stanza.

 

Meetze admired the way his team fought until the end, but said they would have to play smarter for a chance in the Class AA sectionals.

 

"I don't think our execution is good," Meetze said.  "The effort was there, but you have to score on set plays and you have to make the right decisions."

 

Point Totals

Lew-Port:  Jernard Jackson 28, Dawson Bailey 26, Donald Allender 9, Steve Mansour 4, William Duff 2, Dyland Milbrand 2

Kenmore West:  Terrell Ford 19, Tyler Aquilina 17, Aaron Tucker 13, Tyler White 6, Jay Taylor 5, Kyle LaPlante 3, Andrew Fron 2, Carson Gaughan 2

 

-centercourt