Jakari Davis-Mitchell, Lorenzo boys basketball remain focused amid distractions
WOODROW — Stacy Godfrey won't deny there's been a lot to deal with off the court.
The Lorenzo boys basketball interim head coach just wants his team to focus on playing.
So far, so good.
Jakari Davis-Mitchell, who 10 days earlier awaited the fate of his eligibility, scored a game-high 37 points Thursday to power the Hornets' 67-57 Class 1A area-round playoff win at Lubbock-Cooper. The dynamic junior added 18 rebounds and four assists, showcasing his importance to Lorenzo's ultimate goal.
That goal, a state championship, remains despite the changes brought by last week's UIL ruling. The State Executive Committee deemed all-region guard Travon McCaslin ineligible and placed the Hornets athletic program on two year’s probation.
More:UIL SEC places Lorenzo ISD athletic department on two years of probation
"We don't let that stuff get to us," Davis-Mitchell said. "We can't let that adversity get to us and all that. We've just got to keep practices up, keep the energy up, and we've got it. … Nothing's changed. We're still going to chase that ring. We've just got to play hard, play as a team, and we'll get it."
Godfrey acknowledged the UIL situation has been a distraction, but he's pleased with his players' response. Lorenzo is 3-0 since, including a pair of playoff wins by an average of 24.5 points.
"It's hard to block out," Godfrey said. "We've got 16-, 17-year-olds. I told them, 'You guys let me handle that. You guys just go play.' … At the beginning it was hard, but they've kind of pushed it back in the back of their minds, and we're getting better at it."
No. 15 Lorenzo (24-10) built a 34-21 halftime lead, and then Davis-Mitchell took over. The junior, who played the previous two seasons at Shallowater, scored 14 points in the third quarter. That included a personal 9-0 run to end the frame.
The Hornets led 60-36 in the fourth quarter when Whitharral (20-8) made a push. The Panthers scored 15 unanswered, including three 3-pointers, to come within nine points with 1:40 remaining. Lorenzo missed all eight free-throw attempts during the stretch.
Davis-Mitchell ended the run with a drive to the bucket, and Whitharral never got closer. It was a wire-to-wire victory for Lorenzo, although the Panthers got within five points at the 2:52 mark of the second quarter.
"They'd get a lead, we'd close it to four," Whitharral coach Clayton Fryar said. "Then they'd get a lead, we'd close it to back to six. We felt if we could ever tie them up, we could put a little pressure, just could never quite get there."
Despite the big numbers, Davis-Mitchell was quick to deflect credit to his teammates. His coach provided plenty of praise, though. Godfrey said the guard powered through cramps late in the game.
It's the type of effort the Hornets will need from their star moving forward.
"I said, 'You're one of the top players in the state, so you've got to play like it.'" Godfrey said. "'So get out there, suck it up and go play.' I'm proud of him. He's a go-getter."
Class 1A area round
Lorenzo 67, Whitharral 57
Whitharral 10 11 13 23 — 57
Lorenzo 17 17 19 14 — 67
Whitharral (20-8) — Brent Robinson 11, Jack Griffin 6, Shamadrick Weaver 9, Kaden Smith 13, Jeryn Ellerd 9, Jarett Fryar 9.
Lorenzo (24-10) — Kian Mitchell 3, Chris Quintana 14, Jakari Davis-Mitchell 37, Angelo Peneda 1, T.J. Godfrey 6, Malachi Villegas 6.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lorenzo boys basketball remain focused amid distractions
