BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer
LAKEWOOD — With two sophomores and two freshmen in his starting lineup, Lakewood High School boys basketball coach John Richardson is constantly reminding himself to show patience.
Young players are going to make mistakes at crucial stages of a game. And young players eventually grow under the pressure and demands of varsity ball.
Richardson has witnessed his Piners’ transformation from a fledgling group to one that is beginning to show signs of maturity.
In a 59-55 Class B victory over Lacey Township last Friday, not only did Lakewood avenge an early season loss, but the Piners’ underclassmen demonstrated senior poise in the closing minutes.
"I’ve seen a lot of progress with this group since the opening week of the season," Richardson said. "We’re so young and at times have played inconsistently, especially late in the game. But we did and excellent job of closing this game out. Our defense was solid and we made foul shots in big spots. We’re coming along nicely."
The victory raised Lakewood’s record to 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the league. With the state playoff cutoff date approaching this weekend, the Piners still have a chance at qualifying for the state tournament.
The Piners were led by freshman guard Jerry Jones, who scored a game-high 22 points. Jones was especially solid at the free throw line, knocking down all 10 of his attempts.
"He has an awful lot of potential," Richardson said. "He is a terrific offensive player. He is athletic and handles the ball well. He has good instincts to get to the basket."
Jones’ biggest output of the season came against Neptune. Jones notched a team-high 24 points despite a Piners’ setback.
Sophomore Chris Smith, the team’s leading scorer, poured in 17 points, including four three-pointers.
Freshman forward Mark Robertson chipped in with eight points and numerous key rebounds. At 6-foot-4, Robertson is an inside-outside threat. He can play in the post or shoot from the perimeter. His versatility makes him a match-up problem for opponents.
"He has come around a lot in the last seven or eight games," Richardson said. "He’s had a couple of double doubles and his defense and rebounding have been key. He has a good jump shot and isn’t afraid to knock around with the bigger guys in the league underneath."
Although sophomore Rondell Proctor scored just two points, his defense this season has been outstanding, Richardson said.
"There were a number of games this year we should have won but our inexperience early in the year hurt us," Richardson said. "We’ve been in every game except for the loss to Neptune. We’ve lost a couple in the closing minutes and a couple in overtime. But we seem to be on the right track now. We want to try and be as consistent with the ball as we can be in the last part of our schedule. If we limit our mistakes and turnovers, we can present a lot of problems for teams."