Luella’s physicality, athleticism too much for Northside in final game of Forrest B. Johnson & Associates Holiday Hoops Classic

WARNER ROBINS — Luella (4-4) turned the last game of the Forrest B. Johnson & Associates Holiday Hoops Classic against Northside (7-3) into a lopsided affair for a 65-52 final score.

The Lions’ athleticism made it difficult for the Eagles to attack the basket without physicality to match. Ashir Butler, Dan Oiboh and Brandon Adams contested or blocked a plethora of shots and used those to run out in the break for easy baskets.

“We had shootaround today and I said, ‘We got to play off of two feet,’” Northside head coach Buck Harris said. “Because they’re gonna try to block everything. So we go in there and three times a guy blocks a shot. So I tell them at halftime, ‘What did I tell y’all at shootaround? To play off of two feet.’”

“I don’t just talk to hear myself talk,” he continued. “So when you don’t listen to what I’m saying…of course you’re gonna get intimidated now. [Luella] overextends so you’re going to have gaps to get [to the rim], but you got to play off of two feet. Which we never did.”

By halftime Luella led 27-17 and a 7-2 run to start the third put them up by 15 with six minutes to play in the period.

Northside didn’t help themselves with turnovers and poor shooting at the charity stripe.

Freshman Caden Lowe hit a jumper and got a nice layup to go despite the contact in the third but the Eagles had a hard time getting in any kind of rhythm.

They made a push in the fourth quarter, drawing within 11, but couldn’t get the deficit to single digits. The hole was too deep.

“Lack of toughness,” Harris said on what put Northside in the negative early. “One of the things that I said, [Luella’s] record is not indicating how good they are. They played some good teams, they’re big, they’re physical, they’re athletic and they’re well coached.”

“I said, ‘This is going to be a great game for us to see what we are,’” he continued. “We got exposed in some areas and our freshmen were freshmen today…disappointed in the loss. I think it was a lack of focus…But to be 7-3 right now going into Christmas, I’ll take that…I ain’t never into moral victories, but my kids played hard. We just didn’t get a lot of stuff done.”

UP NEXT

Northside will take a nine-day break and get back into action against Perry on Monday, Dec. 29 at 6:30 p.m.

Luella will play Jenkins on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 11:30 a.m.