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Gar-Field Easily Extends Win Streak

Team more versatile than coach Gray expected

With only a third of the 2011-2012 men's basketball season on record, it is entirely too early to make predictions, however one thing is certain: Gar-Field is versatile—unpredictable on offense and adaptable on defense—and the Indians used that versatility Friday to defeat Patriot for the second time this season, 82-54.

“Absolutely not!” said head coach Andy Gray, when asked if he expected his team to be playing as well as they have at this point in the season. “We have only one starter back, we're not real deep and we're not physically imposing at all. Who would've thought that we'd be where we are right now.”

Gray, who has a reputation of being modest when talking about his team, has lead Gar-Field (8-0, 2-0) to 12 consecutive regular season victories, dating back to last season, regardless of the fact that three of his starters are multi-sport players who joined the team a couple weeks late because of obligations to football. Additionally, each game someone different has stepped up and made considerable contributions, which makes it difficult for opposition to plan against them.

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"It says that we have a little bit of balance,” said Gray about his team's versatility. “We have a hand full of kids that can score, but we had kids off the bench that played well tonight too. Dave Bailey and Ryan Mason did some things without scoring that have led to a lot of our success as well.”

Chas Warren was one of those bench contributors against Patriot; he scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Starter Zach Fong scored 26 points and Marcus Knight scored 12. For the third game in a row, junior guard Curtis Lovitt got the start and contributed 17 points. Lovitt and Gray both admitted that Lovitt's off-court actions contributed to him not starting prior to game six.

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“I was doing better in school, picking my grades up and working extra hard in practice,” said Lovitt. “I feel kinda good now. When he put me in the starting line up it just gave me more motivation to do what I do.”

The Indians showed a completely different defensive front against Patriot and trapped guard Eugene Baltimore, holding him to only two points in the first half.

“We wanted to take the ball out of Baltimore's hands as much as possible,” said Gray. “So, we ran at him and forced him to pitch ahead. In the second half he backed off, and that's when he had a good portion of his points. So, playing him straight up would have been a terrible mistake.”

Baltimore scored 20 points, overall.

Through eight games, the Indians are shooting 57 percent from the field and 43 percent beyond the 3-point arc. They also shoot 61 percent from the free throw line and average 69 points per game.

“Historically, as January and February unfold, teams in this division get better and better,” said Gray. “It's nice to be where we are right now, but we have to get ready for next Wednesday.”

Gar-Field competes in a three-game tournament in Roanoke this week.

Stats

Gar-Field

Zach Fong: 26 points; Marcus Knight: 12 points; Curtis Lovitt: 17 points; Chas Warren: 13 points.

Patriot

Eugene Baltimore: 20 points; Terry Smith: eight points; A.J. Cowthran: 12 points; Marcus Farber: 10 points.

Lady Indians

Garfield's women's basketball team is now 2-5 (1-1), after losing 25-69 to Paul VI Catholic High School Friday.

Stats

Gar-Field

Kianna Vivanco: eight points; Jasmine Orstead: seven points.

Paul VI

Ariana Freeman: 22 points; Mariena Tremba: 21 points; Kasey Curtis: 11 points.

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