POETS WIN TOUGH BATLE WITH LIONS, 73-64

JUSTIN COLEMAN SCORES 24-POINTS IN TOUGH LOSS TO LANIER

Prattville’s boys’ basketball team played coach Floyd Matthews’ Lanier Poets tough Tuesday night, January 15 at Powell Gymnasium.  The Lions were within easy striking distance for most of the night.  Each time the Lions would get close or tie, Lanier would pull away. 

Prattville fell late in the fourth quarter as a 13-5 run sent the Lions tumbling to a 73-64 defeat.

Prattville opened the game battling the talented poets bucket for bucket.  Lanier’s Steven Wallace kept the pressure on Prattville draining two treys from downtown, while Ky Ward hit one for the Lions.

By the close of the first period with a trey from Rashad Bell the Poets had built a 21-16 lead.

The Poets opened the second period with a trey from Steven Wallace and Wallace followed with a steal for a two-pointer as the Poets built a ten point cushion, 26-16.

Prattville rallied back with a 6-0 run as Justin Coleman drained two straight two-pointers and Ward added a deuce, trimming the lead to 26-22 with 4:41 left in the half.

The Lions answered Lanier point for point until Ward added a three point play with 1:10 left to trim the lead to 34-31.  Lanier ended the half with 36-33 lead.

Zach Darby brought the Prattville faithful hopes up for a big upset as the third quarter began.  Darby drained a trey to knot the game at 36-36 with 7:09 left.

Rashard Bell quickly put Lanier back on top 38-36.

Down court Coleman with a beautiful feed from Ward again gave Prattville a 38-38 tie with 5:37 left.  Wallace answered to give the Lanier lead again, 40-38.

The game rocked on until Coleman hit two free throws with 3:51 left to knot the game 44-44.

Lanier finished the period with an 11-6 run to take a 55-50 lead at the close of the period.

Prattville never got any closer as Lanier won the final period 18-14 and earned a hard fought 73-64 victory.

Prattville's Justin Coleman led all scorers with 24-points.  Ky Ward followed with 12-points, Zack Darby added eiht points with Andre McBride and Kingston Davis both adding five points each.

Steven Wallace led the Poets with 21 points, while Maravis Coleman added 17 and Fernando Edwards finished with 13.