Lexington boys basketball aiming to fix late-game hiccups

Luis Torres
Jackson Sun

SELMER — If there’s been one problem that’s been consistent with Lexington’s slow start to the season, it’s been the inability to finish games.

Lexington's Khamon Garrett looks up to the basket while being guarded by McNairy's Hunter McCullar during their game, Friday, Jan. 19. Lexington defeated McNairy County, 50-43.

It’s held the Tigers back and been a problem that’s been the root of much of the frustration of coach Andrew Hicks. The inability to make that one shot, make that one defensive stop or grab that one rebound.

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“Of our 12 losses, nine of them we had fourth quarter leads,” Hicks said. “We’ve got to step up and finish plays and finish games.”

However, for at least one game, Hicks was pleased to see his team overcome their biggest issue. Lexington defeated McNairy Central 50-43 in a District 14-AA contest on Friday night.

One reason for the Tigers’ ineffectiveness late in games is communication on defense. Combining that with repeated slow starts on that end makes for a bad formula.

“We’re usually starting off real slow on defense and not talking and being real sluggish,” Khamon Garrett said. “We’ve been honing in on that in practice and we’re really (playing) good defense.”

Lexington (9-12, 5-2) has a shot to move up the 14-AA standings as the season enters the final stretch. Communication will be important on both ends of the floor. It'll help ease some of the pressure late in games. 

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“It’s going to be a huge key,” Garrett said. “And we can always play good defense, it’s just talking and some of the guys get tired and we would just focus on our own man and not helping. We just gotta keep focusing.”

Lexington's Isaiah Henry is guarded by McNairy's Rondo Beard as they head up court during their game, Friday, Jan. 19. Lexington defeated McNairy County, 50-43.

The pressure seems to mount during one-possession games. Whenever it’s been close, it’s been one play or one sequence that’s held back Lexington.

“Turnovers here and offensive rebounds we give up there, those have been really our achilles heel all year,” Hicks said.

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Hicks saw positives on Friday night. Even with all the snow getting in the way of practice time, maybe things are starting to turn in the right direction for Lexington. More consistency closing games will go a long way for Hicks and the Tigers.

“It was refreshing for our guys to come out and do what we’re supposed to do,” Hicks said. “But on the flip side of that, when we got opportunities to close out games by getting stops and finishing at the free-throw line, we gotta do a better job of finishing the game. We still allowed that door to be cracked. They had opportunities and we eventually just closed it."

Reach Luis Torres at ltorres1@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9638 and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.