December 23, 2002
Big time players get it done in big time games. Monroe guard Demetric Bennett proved he was a big time player against arch-rival Dougherty in the championship game of the WALB Holiday Classic.
Bennett scored 27 points, 20 in the first half, to lead Monroe to a 70-58 win over the Trojans and avenges the Tornadoes only loss of the season.
Dougherty, who beat Monroe at the buzzer 51-49 in the season opener for both teams on November 26th, got off to an early lead thanks to a barrage of three-point baskets by Reginald Woodson and Michael Billings.
The Trojans though cooled off in the second half scoring only nine points.
Demetric Bennett though kept firing to give Monroe a 38-24 lead at halftime.
Dougherty turned up their defensive pressure that forced Monroe to turn the ball over.
The Trojans cashed in and cut the Monroe lead to within three points late in the third quarter. Reginald Woodson led Dougherty with 15 points and Kurt Bland scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds
While Bennett carried the Tornadoes in the first half, his Monroe teammates stepped up in the fourth quarter. Troy Williams scored two layups and finished with 12 points as did Terrence Ransom.
It is the first holiday tournament title for Monroe since 1996. Demetric Bennett,, who also had 11 rebounds and four steals in the championship game was named the most valuable player of the WALB Holiday Classic.
The WALB Holiday Classic all tournament consisted of Dougherty's Reginald Woodson and Michael Billings, Monroe's Troy Williams, Montavious Waters of Westover and Tift County's Stanley Brownlee.
Tift County 64 Westover 60 OT
Xavier Jordan and Aaron Gibbs combined for 40 points to hand Westover their second straight loss and to claim third place at the WALB Holiday Classic.
Montavious Waters scored 30 points before fouling out for the Patriots who shot only 29% from behind the three point line.
Consolation games:
Statesboro 70 Martin Luther King 53
SHS: Ronell Wooten 18 pts. MLK:Emanuel Griffin 14 pts.
Bradwell Institute 51 Southwest Macon 48
BI: Guyton 15 pts. SWM-Travon Searcy 15 pts.
Sumter Co. 55 Albany High 48
SCHS: Lanorris Maddox 27 pts AHS: Jarail Wade, Zocko Littleton 10 pts. each
Glynn Academy 55 Paxon High (Fl.) 37
GA: Akeem Brown 14 pts, 16 rebs Px-Wayne Clark 22 pts.
posted by roberth@walb.com at 12:25am 12/24/02
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