BY ANTHONY STEVENS
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
HONAKER, Va. – In a game of contrasting halves, Lebanon broke open a tight battle Tuesday night to post a 65-39 non-district win over Honaker at A. P. Baldwin Gymnasium.
There was definitely a significant difference between the first half and the second half. Lebanon led only 24-22 at intermission.
“Defense,” Lebanon coach Thad Lambert said. “That was the difference: We played defense in the second half.
“I don’t know what happened to us in the first half. I think the players thought a couple of calls didn’t go our way, and they panicked. And there was no reason to panic. We were still right there.”
Honaker (5-11, 2-2) scored their first possession and never trailed, holding a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Pioneers took their first lead after a basket by Jerome Cobb and a driving layup by Cody Compton at the start of the second quarter.
It was tight the entire first half. Justin Hall kept the Tigers in the game. The versatile Hall scored inside, driving to the basket and on the perimeter. Hall led Honaker with 18 points, including 12 in the first half.
Lebanon’s full-court pressure really bothered the Tigers in the third quarter. Honaker had nine of their 24 turnovers in the quarter. Several led to transition layups as the Pioneers went on an 11-4 run at the start of the second half and never looked back. Compton finished with a game-high 24 points and Cobb contributed 15 points. They scored all but two of Lebanon’s points in the first half and also fueled the run in the third quarter.
“The way we played in the second half is how we want to play for four quarters,” Lambert said. “Compton showed senior leadership. He handled the ball great, passed the ball well and shot it good. Cobb just brings great rebounding and defense every night.”
The Pioneers outscored Honaker 41-17 in the second half.
“We just didn’t execute in the second half like we should have,” Honaker coach Waylon Hart said. “We just didn’t stay with the game plan. We got down a few points, and it took the air out of us. It got away from us.”
Lebanon (15-2, 3-1) has now won eight of its last nine meetings with Honaker.
Honaker will play host to its other Russell County rival, Castlewood, on Friday.
Lebanon plays at Virginia High on Friday in a key CMD contest with the game starting at a special time. The girls’ varsity contest will start at 4 p.m., with the boys’ varsity contest immediately afterward.
LEBANON (65) – J. Cobb 6 3-4 15, Jones 1 2-2 4, Jessee 2 0-0 4, Compton 9 2-4 24, Smith 1 2-4 4, Hendrickson 2 0-0 4, Brown 0 0-0 0, Bush 3 2-2 8, K. Cobb 0 0-0 0, Ballenberger 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 11-16 65.
HONAKER (39) – Davis 2 0-0 5, Dye 3 2-2 8, Hall 7 4-5 18, Murphy 1 0-0 2, T. Brown 1 2-2 4, Gent 0 0-0 0, C. Ray 0 0-0 0, C. Brown 1 0-0 2, Vandyke 0 0-3 0. Totals 15 8-12 39.
Lebanon 11 13 18 23–65
Honaker 14 8 9 8–39
3-point goals—Lebanon 4 (Compton 4), Honaker 1 (Davis 1). Total fouls—Lebanon 18, Honaker 19. Fouled out—none. Technicals—Honaker coach Hart. JV game—Lebanon 49-41.
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