One, match the Vikings intensity; two, play tough defense; and three, don't worry about mistakes made against the high-flying Vikings.
Mission accomplished for Fleetwood and the Class AAAAA No. 1-ranked Comets. They left Valhalla with a 78-71 win over East Hall behind balanced scoring and timely defense.
In the girls game, South Gwinnett made it a sweep with a 56-39 win over the Lady Vikings.
South Gwinnett (13-1) had four players in double figures led by Louis Williams' 27 points. Mike Mercer added 20 and Greg Lockett and Avery Jakes had 10 each.
The game started rough for East Hall (10-2) as the Comets ran out to a quick 10-2 lead. But Vikings leading scorer Frank Davis kept them in the game with 9 points in the first quarter to close to within 24-21.
Davis, however, was held in check the rest of the way scoring just 7 points over the final three quarters. He led the Vikings with 16 points while Jerrenda Wheeler and Kendrick Coleman each had 13.
"I thought we played very good defense throughout and made some plays when we needed them," Fleetwood said. "This is a tough place to win. We're fortunate to leave here with one."
East Hall trailed just 43-42 at halftime and tied the game at 58-58 but South Gwinnett held East Hall to just two points over a three minute stretch while building a 68-62 lead. The Vikings never recovered.
"We had a bad stretch in the fourth quarter which ultimately lost the game for us," East Hall coach Seth Vining said.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/1/166218