Turnovers prove costly for Lions in playoff loss
February 24, 2010

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

PROSPER -- Early turnovers hurt the Greenville Lions during an 82-40 loss to Frisco in a Class 4A bi-district basketball playoff game on Tuesday night.

Greenville committed 15 turnovers in the first half to fall behind 43-18 and couldn’t recover against a Frisco team that improved to 23-9 for the season.

“The pressure of the game got to us early,” said Greenville coach Earl Claiborne. “We committed too many turnovers early in the ball game.”

The Lions lost two turnovers and were called for charging on their three trips down the floor before Julian Singletary scored for Frisco.

LaDarrian Green scored on a drive to the bucket to tie the game for Greenville at 2-2.

But Greenville never led as Frisco went up 8-4 and then closed out the first period on a 10-0 run to increase its lead to 18-7.

The Lions went scoreless for a three-minute span in the second quarter to fall behind, 30-10.

LaDarrian Green hit two free throws and Manon Steward scored inside to trim Frisco’s lead to 32-14. But Frisco outscored the Lions 11-4 over the rest of the half to stretch its advantage.

Both teams substituted liberally in the second half as the Raccoons stayed comfortable ahead.

Byron Mack wound up leading the Lions with 10 points and LaDarrian Green finished with six.

Devonte Green, who’d been averaging 20.6 points per game for the Lions, was limited to seven points. LaDarrien Davis added six points, N.J. Mason tossed in six, Blake Taylor and Steward both chipped in a couple of points and Alton Dennis added one point.

Cal Crabtree, the Lions’ 6-5 senior, led the defense with four blocked shots.

Frisco’s two scoring leaders for the season, Ben Dillard and Quince Jackson, combined for 44 points as Dillard poured in 23 and Jackson added 21.

R.J. White, a 6-5 sophomore, added 10 points after converting three three-point plays.

The Lions, who qualified for the playoffs with a third-place finish in District 10-4A, wound up with a 16-17 final record.

“No. 1, I want the people of Greenville to understand that we are proud to be back in the playoffs,” said Claiborne. “No one gave us a chance to be in the playoffs. We were picked to finish seventh. Icing on the cake.

“I want to thank this year’s seniors for bringing Greenville basketball back to where it needs to be. We will be back,” he said.

Frisco advances to the area round to play Dallas Lincoln, a 60-58 winner over Seagoville.

Class 4A boys bi-district

Greenville 7 11 9 15 --42

Frisco 18 25 22 15 --80

G: Devonte Green 7, Byron Mack 10, Alton Dennis 1, LaDarrian Green 9, N.J. Mason 5, Blake Taylor 2, LaDarrien Davis 6, Manon Steward 2.

F: Jarred Bryan 2, Julian Singletary 4, Quince Jackson 21, Pierce Lahey 8, Ben Dillard 23, Mackey Culbertson 8, Dee Fields 4, R.J. White 10.

Records: G 16-17; F 23-9.