Boys' Basketball: Outmanned and Outgunned, Laurel Spartans Fall to Charles H. Flowers Jaguars 66-47

Anytime you enter a game without four of your players in Prince George's County 4A basketball, it is going to be a steep challenge. When three out of the four missing players are starters, then the challenge is going to be even greater.   

Shorthanded, Laurel (2-3, 1-3 in league play) took on the challenge of a fully-manned Charles H. Flowers team (4-1, 4-0 in league play) on Dec. 21. 

If this game could have been won with heart, effort and determination, then the Spartans might have been able to prevail. 

But the Jaguars proved to be too much. 

From the opening tip-off, it seemed as if the Spartans were outmatched.  With reserves taking the court for the missing starters, there were some nerves and jitters, and they exhibited themselves early by poor ball handling among the Spartan players. 

Turnovers and fouls plagued the Spartans early. Yet, despite these obstacles the Spartans were able to keep the game close behind the play of junior guard Brandon Roberson who was all over the court. 

While Roberson led the Spartans with 14 points, it was his court leadership that enabled the Spartans to keep the game close until late in the 3^rd quarter. 

Roberson made steals, tips, rebounds and scored baskets. 

Along with Roberson, junior guard Adrian Rousseau added 11 points and senior guard Tyrone Cook added some key rebounds and blocks. 

The problem for the Spartans on this night was that they received little help from fellow starters senior forward Zane Carroll and senior guard Kavaun Serrette. 

Throughout the 1^st period both teams needed to probe each other's style.  Jaguars sophomore guard Brandon Green, who led all scorers with 19 points, took charge early leading the Jaguars to an advantage that they never relinquished. 

As the 2^nd period wore on, fatigue began to show on the side of the Spartans.  Rousseau had yet to take a shot until midway through the 2^nd period.  He seemed to forget that the object of the game is to put the ball in the basket.  He passed up multiple open opportunities. Although some of those opportunities were used to make great passes, very few of them ended up as assists. 

If the Spartans are going to have success this year, they are going to need Rousseau to get more aggressive and take his own shots and score.   

As the 3^rd period wore on, it became apparent that the Jaguars were simply going to be too much for the then weary Spartans. At one point, the Jaguars extended the lead to 30 points behind the hot hand of Green. 

Give credit to the Spartans for never quitting.  Fatigued and outmanned, the Spartans kept fighting to whittle down the lead before the final buzzer, with Roberson once again leading the way.  Showing the leadership that only a true point guard can, Roberson continued to make play after play, rebounding and initiating steals on which the Spartans were able to capitalize to cut the lead down.

Although the game was not close, Roberson kept playing as if it were a tie ballgame.  Again, exactly what you need from your point guard and field general. 

At the conclusion of the contest, Laurel coach Torrence Oxendine was very complimentary of his opponent.

"Coach Lanier [of Charles H. Flowers] is an outstanding coach, and we knew that we would have to execute perfectly in order to win, especially with four players out," said Oxendine. 

Coach Oxendine, however, was not ready to concede anything in the Prince George's County 4A league just yet. 

"When we get our full complement of players back, we will be tough to beat," he said. 

One other comment he added was that Rousseau, the junior guard with the bull's-eye shot, had told him that he was "feeling sick" before the game with flu-like symptoms. 

"[He was] probably [sick] from walking around out in the cold without a coat," said Oxendine.

Rousseau mentioned to the coach that he was not up to shooting much due to his condition.  This is sacrilege for a shooting guard to even think, let alone express out loud. 

Well, for Laurel's sake, let us hope that the young man dresses appropriately for the rest of the winter.  Without his hot hand, it will be a long, cold winter for the Spartans