MHS opens district play with two wins
by Tom Hardin
- Friday, January 13, at Mathews
- Tuesday, January 17, Lancaster, home
- Wednesday, January 18, at Northumberland
The Middlesex High boys basketball team defeated King William and King and Queen to open its Tidewater District season.
The Chargers went on the road last Friday and upended King William 67-54 behind Ryheem Lockley’s 27 points.
Middlesex led 32-21 at the half.
LJ King added 19 points for the Chargers (2-0, 5-5); Juwan Reed scored 10 and was a force on the boards; Sherman Osborne tallied 4; JD Diggs had 3; and Peter Hart and Justin Smith added 2 apiece.
On Tuesday at MHS, Middlesex got off to it usual slow start and trailed King and Queen 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Lockley didn’t score in the first quarter but over the next three quarters the 6’4” All-State forward poured in 34 points as the Chargers took control of the game.
“We came out in the second half and got after it,” said MHS coach Brody Jackson. “When we play good defense we get a lot of easy points.
“Ryheem [Lockley] made some beautiful basketball plays in this game,” said Jackson. “When he plays well the whole team plays better.”
Juwan Reed scored 12 points and continued to be dominant on the backboards. “Juwan is really coming along.” said Jackson. “He played a great game tonight.”
King added 11 points for MHS, Osborne 7, J. Smith 6, and Hart and Brett Carter 2 apiece.
“Anytime we get a win I’m happy,” said Jackson. “After the game in the locker room our players were disappointed that they didn’t play better. I like that.”
The Chargers face a tough schedule the next two weeks. They will visit district rival Mathews this Friday, January 13. “I’m sure their gym will be rocking,” said Jackson.
On Tuesday, January 17, MHS will host Lancaster (13-1), the state’s 3rd ranked team. The Red Devils’ only loss this year was to Christchurch.
On Wednesday, January 18, the Chargers will visit always-strong Northumberland.
On Friday, January 20, the Chargers visit West Point in a showdown for first place in the district.
JV games begin at 6 p.m. and varsity games follow at 7:30 p.m.
