Lisbon’s Dawson Martel, right, defends against Oak Hill’s Tommy Grayson during the first half of Tuesday afternoon’s Unified Basketball game in Lisbon.(Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)
LISBON — The Lisbon Unified basketball team broke away from Oak Hill early in the preliminary-round showdown on its way to a 54-28 win Tuesday.
After the teams swapped buckets to open the game, the Greyhounds went on a 15-3 run to build a double-digit cushion that it would hold for the remainder of the game.
“Early in the season, we beat them by quite a bit,” Lisbon co-coach Giana Russo said. “But it’s a playoff game, so we told them we’ve got to give it (our) all.”
Sixth-seeded Lisbon (5-3) advances to face third-seeded Lewiston (6-2) in the quarterfinals.
Lynn Feely scored an early basket to help Lisbon get going Tuesday. She said she has been practicing her shooting, along with her defense, in practice, and that getting a big win in front of the home fans was big for the Greyhounds.
Her favorite part of Unified basketball?
“(Playing) with my friends,” Feely said.
The Greyhounds built their lead by feeding the ball to their twin towers in the post, Michael Farrington and Wesley Lucas, who scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the first half. Lucas finished with a game-high 17 points, highlighted by a second-half 3-pointer, and Farrington scored 15 in the game.
“Wes and Michael, they’re good,” Russo said.
Lucas also made a high-arcing 3-pointer, and came close on a few others.
“Wes is a good shooter,” Russo said. “When he’s on, he’s on.”
After the Greyhounds built their 10-point lead midway through the first half, Oak Hill didn’t allow them to add anymore to the gap the remainder of the half trading them basket for basket and heading into halftime down 31-19.
“I really wanted us to play Lisbon again,” Raiders co-coach Ron Caswell said. “It’s kind of an Oak Hill-Lisbon rivalry. It’s a bittersweet way to end the season, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Oak Hill’s Tommy Grayson opened the second half with a putback, but the Greyhounds reeled off the next 13 points to push their advantage into the 20s.
Lisbon also had success passing the ball upcourt in transition to Dawson Martel, who scored 10 of his 16 points after halftime, several of those points coming on fast breaks.
Feely and Kristy Coleman each had two points for the Greyhounds. Coleman scored the Lisbon’s second to last basket.
Through a sign-language interpreter, Coleman, a sophomore, said she and the Greyhounds are ready for their next game.
Grayson, probably the most active player on the court, led the 11th-seeded Raiders with 12 points.
“Tommy Grayson is a manimal,” Caswell said. “This is his second year, and he’s improved leaps and bounds. He’s probably our most improved player.”
Grayson is in his second season playing Unified basketball. The coaches called a timeout in the final seconds to set up a halfcourt shot for Grayson and it bounced off the backboard.
“What do I like about this?” Grayson said. “Probably the camaraderie I get out of it.”
Alexis Bean and Kourtney Gauthier each scored eight points for Oak Hill.
The Raiders finish the season with a 5-3 record.
“This season’s been phenomenal,” Caswell said. “The numbers were real low, we didn’t have that many athletes, but to make it to the prelims with a 5-2 record … is pretty outstanding.”
Lisbon’s Michael Farrington left, takes a shot during the first half of Tuesday afternoon’s Unified basketball game against Oak Hill. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)
Lisbon’s Wesley Lucas, left, lines up a shot while being defended by Oak Hill’s Tommy Grayson during the first half of Tuesday’s basketball game in Lisbon. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)
Lisbon’s Nick Austin left, dribbles up the court while being defended by Oak Hill’s Alexis Harris during Tuesday’s Unified basketball game in Lisbon. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)
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