By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
LEEDS — The Green Wave rolled, playing a tough defense that allowed only 14 points through three quarters as they beat Briarwood Christian here Thursday night, 45-22.
Leeds head coach Jeremiah Millington talks to his team during a timeout against Briarwood Christian on Thursday, December 9, 2021. (Photo by Bobby Mathews)
Leeds wasted no time bouncing out to a 4-0 lead, and then Briarwood had no answer for Mekhi Jones, who blocked five shots and made the opposing offense alter their shots all game long. The Lions did not score in the third quarter after pulling to within 14 at halftime, 28-14.
“Being 6-5 definitely helps,” said Leeds head coach Jeremiah Millington. “He’s very long, very athletic, and you can be all of that, but if you don’t have knowledge of your rotations and defensive assignments, the personnel we’re playing, then that size and height doesn’t matter. He does a great job of taking the scouting report we have for each team and carrying it over into the game. If he can be that active and assertive on the defensive end, then I like our chances.”
William Lloyd finally scored for Briarwood Christian with 2:04 left in the game to break the drought for the Lions.
For Leeds, it was business as usual.
“Our last game when we played Carver, we kind of got away from what our identity needs to be, and that’s on the defensive end,” Millington said. “We really harped on that yesterday in practice and in our film session and in our walkthrough this morning. Our guys did a great job, because Briarwood’s a good team. They’ve got good players and they’re well-coached. They do a bunch of different things that you have to be ready for.”
For the record: While Millington may not have been satisfied with the Green Wave’s defensive performance earlier in the week, they still beat Carver by 19. Leeds improves to 5-1 on the season.
Leeds was paced by Tabari Davis and Ford Barnes, who each had 10. Jamal Jordan added nine points.
