They finished fourth with a 1-2 record, suffering two lopsided losses in their own holiday basketball tourney, yet the experience was beneficial, according to the Wakefield Warriors varsity boys head coach.
Host Wakefield (5-4) won its seesaw first game, 55-53, over the West Springfield Spartans in the annual eight-team, three-day George Long Holiday Tournament, now in its 22nd year.
The Warriors then lost to the champion Oscar Smith Tigers of Chesapeake, 77-38, in the second round, then fell in the consolation game of the high-school competition to the South County Stallions, 53-37.
The tournament was played Dec. 26-28.
Undefeated Oscar Smith also won last season’s tournament, defeating Wakefield in that title game. The Tigers and Stallions are considered top contenders this season to win the Virginia High School League Class 6 state tournament.
Wakefield’s coach told ARLnow that, win or lose, the tournament proves valuable for his squad.
“This tournament does help us,” Wakefield coach Tony Bentley said. “In 22 years, we’ve only won this tournament four times. I never stack this tournament to win it. We use it as a tool to see where we are and what we have to do to get better.”
Senior center Kooper Odar had 13 points to lead the scoring against Oscar Smith; Gabe Henneman had two points and eight rebounds; Jeremiah Poole had six points, two steals and two assists; and Demitree Carter had eight points and four boards off the bench.
Wakefield trailed 7-6 with 5 minutes left in the first quarter, then Oscar Smith went on a 10-0 run and pulled away from there. Anthony Lewis had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Oscar Smith, and guard Jacob Harper had 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
Against South County, Wakefield built a quick 4-0 lead, but trailed 22-19 at halftime, then 47-26 after three quarters. Henneman had 10 points for Wakefield, Poole (four assists) and Keyon Tiggle scored eight each, and Shane Morrison had two points and six rebounds.
Odar had 23 points and 10 rebounds, blocked four shots and had a steal and an assist against West Springfield. He was 7 of 7 from the foul line and 8 of 11 shooting from the floor, and was chosen to the all-tournament team.
Henneman had 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists; Isaiah Ledbetter provided a spark with eight points off the bench. Morrison had seven points to go with five rebounds and four assists.
West Springfield led 53-51 with 2:27 to play, but Wakefield scored the final four points, with Henneman tying the score at 53 on a layup with 1:59 to play.
Oscar Smith was the first back-to-back winner of the George Long tournament since Wakefield won in 2014 and 2015.
