Yoe basketball gets back on winning track

Following a three-game slide in district action, the Cameron Yoemen found themselves at just 1-3 in 20-3A play.  Up next on the schedule was Rockdale (0-4) and Academy (1-3) - two teams that were in the same boat as the Yoemen. 

Rockdale

For a good part of district play, Cameron has got off plenty of shot attempts on offense.  However, that has not resulted in buckets and points on the scoreboard. 

On Friday night from Yoe Gym, Cameron led 20-17 at the half, and it appeared that it was the defense that was going to carry the load.  That was until the Yoemen offense put up 35 points in the second half en route to a 55-32 victory over the Tigers.

The 35 points was tied for the most in a half for the Yoemen thus far in league action.  The only other time that mark was achieved was against Hearne, which coincidentally was Cameron’s (15-7/2-3) other district win.

“We finally got our shots back,” said Glendening.  “We all know what has been going on.  We just haven't been scoring and have been turning the ball over.  That is how we can shoot.  That is how we were and we just went dead for a week and I'm glad we got it back.”

The scoring output varied, as guard Danny Perez led the way with 18 points while post LaRondre Booze was in double figures at 14.

“We just kept playing hard and hustled,” said Perez on the win. 

Not to be overlooked was the defensive effort. Cameron came into the game giving up just 54 points per game, and lowered that average during the 35-15 second half run. 

“We played great defense tonight” said Glendening.  “You hold them to 32 points.  We have been playing great defense.  We base our program on defense and we are not going to change that.  Coach Brashear (football) and Coach Broussard (baseball) does the same thing, so we are going to play great defense.”

Academy

When Cameron has lost games this season, it was usually a result of a slow start.  On Tuesday, the opposite occurred as Cameron jumped on Academy 12-3 after one and went on to take the win, 46-38. 

Cameron led by 10 at the half (22-12) and the game never got closer than six the remainder of the way. 

Academy’s most productive stretch of play came in the third with 17 points.  The Bees had just 21 points in all other periods.

“We played great defense the first half,” said Glendening.  “I felt like we had a let down in the second half and weren’t playing defense they way we were capable of playing defense.  We have to get that fixed.  We are making great decisions, but we have to finish.”

Late in the third, Yoe guard Sicory Smith forced a steal and turned it into a transition basket to put his team up 34-23.  Cameron generated 15 turnovers on the night while holding Academy to just 15-37 shooting from the floor. 

“We got plenty of steals with our defense,” said Smith.  “With the five guys hustling giving it all that they have, the luckier you get.”

With the lead down to six with 30 seconds remaining in the game, Perez calmly sank two free throws to ensure the win.  The guard also knocked down a 3-pointer right before the half to keep Cameron up by double digits, 22-12.

Perez, Booze and Kevondre Wesley each had nine points.  Smith had seven and Levi May came in with six. 

With confidence back on their side, Smith and his teammates will now look to push the win streak to three in a row and make a push for the postseason. 

“We have to keep playing defense,” said Smith.  “We have to learn how to finish, get to the rim and make the layups.”

Cameron will be on the road at undefeated Jarrell on Friday before returning home to take on Hearne to begin the second half of district.