AHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL CENTRAL REGIONAL: Crawford carries Generals to final
Lee's Brandon Crawford watched as his 3-pointers repeatedly missed the mark during Monday's Class 6A Central Regional semifinal game against Murphy.
So after watching three of his four third-quarter attempts go awry, Crawford knew it was time to change plans.
At that point, he attacked the basket, scoring 13 of his game-high 29 points while lifting the Generals to a 56-49 victory over the Panthers at the Acadome.
"With this being my senior year, we aren't trying to go home," Crawford said. "For me, I'm trying to leave a mark on Robert E. Lee and do something that no one's done in winning a state championship.
"Most of the time in the fourth quarter, if I don't hit my outside shots I try to get to the hole and get to the free-throw line."
In one way, Crawford has already led Lee to new heights. Monday marked its first regional appearance since 1997.
Crawford scored Lee's first six fourth-quarter points -- two on dunks and another on a layup. His six-point run gave the Generals a 42-36 run and they held Murphy scoreless for more than 5 minutes in the decisive period.
Lee coach Bryant Johnson said his team's fourth quarter defense is a major reason his team advanced to the regional final.
"I thought the difference was our defense in the fourth quarter," Johnson said. "We put more pressure on the ball. We had to because they're such a big physical team and they were pounding us early."
Corey Steele was the person most responsible for Murphy's inside presence. He scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. However, Lee slowed Steele down in the second half. He scored just six points after halftime and frequently faced double teams.
"We focused on (Steele) because he was the only guy scoring for them," Johnson said. "He was outworking us and that's how he was getting his points."
Murphy coach Timothy Waller said not only did Lee's extra attention on Steele slow the forward down, the fact that Steele had to guard players both in the post and on the perimeter taxed his legs as well.
"Corey is the rock of this team," Waller said. "He can will us to win a game. In the last three or four games he willed us to win. My hat's off to him."
Lee helped its own cause in the fourth quarter by hitting 10 of 14 free throws. Crawford led the way, hitting 7 of 9.
Crawford's 29 points left him four shy of the Class 6A Regional records. He also grabbed seven rebounds. Michael Phillips of LeFlore scored 33 points in 2001.
Eric McMeans chipped in with seven points and seven rebounds for Lee.
The Generals face Sidney Lanier for the regional final at 8 p.m. Thursday.
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