Langford tops Spirit Creek in front of a capacity crowd

The much anticipated matchup between the defending Richmond County champ, Langford, and Spirit Creek started so fast I could barely focus my camera in time to capture Langford's first half explosion. The Lions overwhelmed Spirit Creek in the second quarter with a 16-4 run before cinching a 52-44 win behind a balanced attack in which three Lions scored in double figures.

Dajuan Collins sank 6-7 second half free throws
to cut Langford's 20 point lead to 3
in the fourth quarter Monday.

Makhi Climons leaped, sprinted, and bullied his way to 12 first half points and set the tone for the kind of fast and physical game that would unfold. Tyshun Briscoe made a move in transition that made the gym roar and the Lions took a 19-9 second quarter lead. But the crowd was loudest after Luther Reid finished in transition to send the Lions to the locker room leading 27-11.

After being pounded inside much of the third, Spirit Creek regained its footing in the fourth quarter as Travis Sturgis and Dajuan Collins found an offensive rhythm. Collins led all scorers with 18 points, including a string of important free throws, that briefly narrowed Langford's lead to 44-41 as coach Remwick Lee dealt with the loss of Climons, who fouled out pursuing a rebound.

Ultimately it was Briscoe and Reid who put the final distance between the teams as the pair made 4 of 5 free throws and each made a driving basket in the final two minutes.

Climons led Langford with 16 points. Reid added 14 and Briscoe 11. Sturgis scored 12 points in the loss.