Nationally-ranked Oak Hill Survives Challenge; Virginia High Boys Top Lebanon In Dramatic Fashion

BRISTOL, Va. – The fans were buzzing at the Bearcat Den, and for good reason.

Oak Hill Academy, the unbeaten and fourth-ranked prep team in the country, was trailing by five points in the second quarter to a quick Veritas Sports Academy squad.

Enter Keith “Tiny” Gallon.

The 6-foot-9, 295-pound senior lived up to his All-American hype as Oak Hill rallied to a 56-43 win.

“I wasn’t worried,” Gallon said. “For every team we play, it’s their biggest game of the season.
“We didn’t know anything about [Veritas]. It just took a little while to adjust.”

With Gallon displaying a versatile package of skills and creative guard Lamont “Mo Mo” Jones creating havoc on offense and defense, the Warriors (28-0) gradually pulled away to the relief of their ailing coach, Steve Smith.

“I tried not to step my feet or yell too much,” said Smith, who has been battling kidney stones all week.
“The game didn’t have the tempo we wanted, but give Veritas credit for that.
“We made some things happen with our defense in the second half.”

In addition to Gallon and the Virginia Tech bound Jones, Oak Hill features West Virginia recruit Bryon Allen (seven points and Division I prospect Glenn Bryant. Gallon averages 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Jones supplied 15 points and seven assists.

That formula was too much for Veritas, a first-year program coached by University of Maryland star Keith Gatlin.

“We have a young team, and the size and depth of Oak Hill wore us down,” Gatlin said.

Veritas (7-7) was led by the combination of 7-foot Deng Leek (eight points, three blocks) from the Sudan and the ultra-quick Leek Leek, who scored 22 points.

“We’re playing a really tough schedule and making god progress,” Gatlin said. “This was a great opportunity for our kids to see the size and speed of the game at this level.”

Oak Hill has already survived many challenges on their national tour of prep basketball hotbeds. Last Friday, the Warriors won at Knox Bearden in a game that featured a rowdy, overflow crowd.

“There were 200 people on both end lines of the gym,” Smith said. “Our guys kind of like the crowd going against us, though.”

No team has found an answer for Gallon, who can score on mid-range jumpers, quick drives and power moves.

“I don’t think many high school teams are used to seeing a big man like me that can play inside and outside,” Gallon said. “I was a guard when I was little and love to dribble. In fact, I keep a ball with me all the time.”

Smith is willing to let his big man freelance, to a point

“Keith is very skilled,” Smith said. “He likes to play guard, but I like him to play forward.”

Jones, who groomed his stylish game in Harlem, N.Y., conducts the Oak Hill offense. Jones, who missed the first quarter of Friday’s game due to leg cramps, never appeared rattled by the early deficit.

“We’ve been in predicaments like this before,” Jones said. “Every team gives us their best, so we just had to pick it up the second half.”

The Warriors still have to face four teams ranked among the nation’s top 10.

“We feel good, but we haven’t won the national championship yet,” Jones said. “That’s what we want.”

Oak Hill travels to the Salem Civic Center tonight to face traditional Roanoke-based power William Fleming.

“We’ve faced a really tough schedule, and I’m a little surprised to have this record,” Smith said.
“Our kids just love challenges. They know how to respond.”

VERITAS (43) – Somerville 3, Smith 6, L. Leek 22, Dias 4, D. Leek 8. Totals 15 11-16 43.
OAK HILL ACADEMY (56) – Lamb 6, Bryant 4, Howard 6, Allen 7, Jones 6, Keita 2, Gallon 23. Totals 23 8-14 56.
Veritas 12 12 10 9–43
Oak Hill Academy 9 16 17 14–56
3-point goals – Veritas 2 (Somerville 1, L. Leek), OHA 1 (Jones). Total fouls-Veritas 12, OHA 14. Fouled out-Bryant.

BOYS

Virginia High 48, Lebanon 42

It was the biggest shot of the night, yet the hero never saw the ball go in the basket.

With his team trailing by one point and just 47 seconds left, 6-foot-6 sophomore Hunter McCall converted a hook shot to give the Virginia High Bearcats a 43-42 lead.

“It was crazy in the paint,” McCall said. “I was just trying to make something happen. I saw the ball come off the rim, jumped as high as I could for the rebound, and put up the shot. Then, I heard the crowd.”

After McCall added a free throw, Virginia High went on to beat the Lebanon Pioneers in a Clinch Mountain District game.

“That was the biggest shot I’ve ever made,” said McCall, who finished with a career-high 11 points.

Virginia High (13-5, 4-2) entered the night trailing Gate City by two games in the CMD standings. The Pioneers (15-3, 3-2) relied on defense en route to a 48-33 victory over VHS at Lebanon on Jan. 6.

“We didn’t play to our capability in that first Lebanon game,” VHS coach Jason Stevens said. “We really didn’t run any offense at all, but Lebanon makes it hard because they put so much pressure on you.”

Virginia High adjusted to the athleticism and quickness of Lebanon Friday. Senior guard Corey Young worked behind multiple screens to score 10 points and 6-5 senior Josh Moore attacked the basket for 14 points.

“Our kids are learning with each game,” Stevens said. “The most important lesson is to play hard all the time.”

Lebanon managed a paltry total of three points in the third quarter. VHS had success with a box-and-one defense on Lebanon’s top scorer, Cody Compton.

“We just didn’t execute in the second half,” Lebanon coach Thad Lambert said.

“We’ve been shooting pretty decent lately and I actually felt good when I saw [Virginia High] in a zone tonight, but we didn’t make the shots.”

The Pioneers also missed 10 missed free throws.

LEBANON (42) – J. Cobb 4, Jones 4, Jessee 14, K. Cobb 5, Compton 13, Hendrickson 2. Totals 16 6-16 42.
VIRGINIA HIGH (48) – Young 10, Tignor 9, Mink 2, Eccleston 2, Moore 14, McCall 11. Totals 17 12-14 48.
Lebanon 11 19 3 9–42
Virginia High 11 11 12 14–48
3-point goals - Lebanon 4 (Jessee, Compton), VHS 2 (Young). Total fouls-Lebanon 15, VHS 14. Fouled out-Smith, K. Cobb.

GIRLS

Va. High 61, Lebanon 37

Virginia High coach Barry Reed has come to expect surprises from his young team. Friday’s game offered another episode.

The Bearcats, coming off a costly 40-37 loss to CMD leader Lee, fell behind 29-22 at the 3:10 mark of the third quarter.

Led by versatile sophomore Savanah Pippin (14 points) and three straight 3-pointers from junior Adriane Evans, VHS (11-6, 4-2) rallied to take a 49-33 lead with 3:30 left in the game.

“That’s typical of us,” Reed said. “We didn’t play nearly as well as we hoped the first three quarters, then we started to play better. We hit some shots, ran the floor and started playing better defense.”

Freshman Hannah Smith (10 points) supplied a career-high 10 points for VHS, which gradually solved the sagging man-to-man defense of the Pioneers.

“You never know what you’re going to get with a young team, not only game by game but quarter to quarter,” Reed said. “You could see that we didn’t want to be there early today, but Lebanon did a good job of executing.”

Lebanon (3-14, 0-5) was led by 5-10 senior center Heather Cox with 13 points.

“We did what we wanted for three quarters,” Lebanon coach Rex Parker said. “We tried to play a slow pace, help out when Pippin got the ball, and try not to let Evans shoot threes.”

Parker’s plan was complicated in the final quarter, as three of his key players were handicapped by four fouls.

“I believe Virginia High just wore us down with their defensive pressure,” Parker said. “We had a lot of turnovers, then we gave them some open shots. Virginia High has a good team.”

Freshman guard Chelsea DeLapp added 10 points for VHS.

LEBANON (37) – Cook 8, A. Smith 9, Arnold 2, Witt 1, Cox 13, Helbert 4. Totals 15 6-9 37.
VIRGINIA HIGH (61) – DeLapp 10, Hutt 5, Collins 4, Pippin 14, H. Smith 10, K. Smith 8, Evans 10. Totals 21 11-20 61.
Lebanon 10 15 6 7–37
Virginia High 9 13 10 29–61
3-point goals - Lebanon 1 (A. Smith), VHS 8 (DeLapp, Collins, Pippin, H.Smith 2, Evans 3). Total fouls-Lebanon 16, VHS 11. Fouled out_K. Smith, Cox.

agregory@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2544