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[kennedy]

Tigers defend top district spot

By Marty O'Brien
mobrien@dailypress.com | 247-4963

YORK — Tabb High’s best game in two years included 13-of-23 shooting in the second half and only one turnover. But the key to the Tigers’ 65-51 victory over Bay Rivers District boys’ rival Poquoson on Wednesday was defense.

Nothing fancy really, mostly man-to-man. But the Tigers’ in-your-face defensive effort forced a Poquoson team that shot the ball well for more than a half into 4-of-24 shooting thereafter.

The Tigers (10-1, 8-1 Bay Rivers) picked up the pace offensively as well, hitting 13 of their final 21 shots to rally from an eight-point third-quarter deficit to remain tied with Grafton atop the district standings. Steve Sherwood led the way with 21 points, while Elijah Chandler (17 points) and Marcell McGee (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Tigers.
"We played our best game in two years, and if we hadn’t we wouldn’t have won," Tabb coach Doug Baggett said. "We knew that Poquoson and Grafton are the two teams in the district who are getting it done."

The Islanders got it done early, hitting 7-of-11 shots to snatch a 19-18 lead at the end of a quarter. Gene Efird (20 points) led the way with seven first-quarter points, while Eric Nixon hit two 3-pointers. Chandler helped the Tigers keep pace with nine points in the first eight minutes.

Nixon scored five points in the second quarter and the Islanders led 31-28 at halftime. But an uncharacteristic 1-of-5 free-throw shooting effort in the second quarter was a sign that the unexpectedly fast pace of the game might be getting to the Islanders.

"You keep playing hard man-to-man in the hopes that they’ll lose their legs and start missing," Baggett said. "We couldn’t stop them early."
It appeared that theme would continue early in the second half. Efird hit a 3-pointer, then Nixon assisted Luke Hunter and then Efird on layups as the Islanders lead stretched to 38-30.

Sherwood countered with a 3-pointer. Then McGee made a free throw, drove baseline for a layup and nailed a 3 from the left corner to put Tabb ahead 39-38.

"That was huge," Sherwood said. "Marcell stepped up. That’s the whole reason we made the run."

Chandler’s drive and Sherwood’s stickback increased the lead to 47-42 at the end of three quarters. Sherwood came up big offensively down the stretch.
The Tigers led by just two points when he shook off the tenacious Bollinger to drive baseline for a layup. Sherwood also scored inside, hit a 3-pointer and assisted Chandler on a basket as the Tigers closed the game with a 14-2 run.
Sherwood’s stellar play provided a measure of redemption after Bollinger and the Islanders held him scoreless in the previous meeting — a 38-33 Tabb victory. Sherwood played that game after attending the viewing of a close friend.

"It was a factor," Sherwood said of his friend’s death three days before the earlier game. "And yes, it was important to play well tonight after not scoring last time.

"But I don’t want to take anything away from Justin because he played good defense."

The Tigers played good defense down the stretch this time, as the Islanders missed their final eight shots.

"Cold shooting about sums it up," Poquoson coach Todd Bowden said. "We got the same looks in the second half, but the ball didn’t go in.

"Give Tabb credit for battling back."

[TIGERSFANFOREVER2008]

all of tabb work is paying off good job guys are doing great.

[jcibby006]

Tigers defend top district spot

i believe that spot is graftons based on the head to head factor

[TIGERSFANFOREVER2008]

no sorry tabb got the top spot once again

[jcibby006]

no actually grafton is still number one cause tabb and grafton are the only teams with one loss so technically if the season ended today we would be #1 and yall would be #2

[jcibby006]

cause we beat yall head to head

[jcibby006]

And dont get it twisted im not tryin 2 dis tabb but the daily press keeps disrespecting grafton with articles like this..........predicting grafton to be # 7 in the district when right now were 7th in the state......saying yall are numner one when we really are!!!!