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Eagles Can't Get Past Largo

PACKERS 66, EAGLES 59

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: January 8, 2009

EAST LAKE - Largo (8-3, 5-1) swiped sole control of second place in Class 5A, District 9 play Wednesday night by going on the road to outlast East Lake, 66-59.

The game was won in the final quarter when the Packers staked an 8-0 run to regain a lead they would not relinquish. Dyimond Johnson and Patrick Kearney hit back-to-back 3-pointers during the streak. Johnson was especially potent from beyond the arc, going 4-for-4 overall.

East Lake (9-5, 4-2) pulled to within three when Logan Campbell hit from long range with 39.1 seconds left. The Eagles then took advantage of a quick Largo turnover, but immediately returned the favor and failed to score another basket.

Guards Johnson and Khari Armstrong led Largo in scoring with 16 a piece.

East Lake's Walter Smith paced all performers with 24 versatile points, hitting four 3's while also getting inside to throw down a few rim-shaking dunks. One of those came at the end of the third quarter when Smith slid into the lane and hammered home the rebound of Kendall O'Neill's errant 3-point attempt. O'Neill was the other Eagle to reach double-digits scoring with 11.

Much of the first half was played at a fast pace with both teams trading scoring runs. After the Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the game, Largo quickly responded with 10 straight of its own. East Lake then came back with 7 in a row only to immediately allow a 9-0 streak by the Packers that stretched into the second quarter.

Both squads will be back on the hardwood Friday night to take on two other District 5A-9 opponents. East Lake will travel to Dunedin and Largo returns home to play Pinellas Park. Each game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m.

SCORING

LARGO--- 17 --- 13 --- 14 --- 22 - 66
EAST LAKE---- 15 --- 17 --- 15 --- 12 - 59

TOP SCORERS

LARGO:

Dyimond Johnson - 16 points, 4 3-pointers
Khari Armstrong - 16 points
Breon Bostick - 10 points
Patrick Kearney - 9 points
Josh Woods - 8 points

EAST LAKE:

Walter Smith - 24 points, 4 3-pointers
Kendall O'Neill - 10 points
Cornelius Rowell - 11 points
Dustin McGahee - 9 points
Logan Campbell - 6 points