Two-week layoff hurts Garner in Glaxo opener

Posted January 5, 2010 at 5:47 pm and filed under GMHS, Sports.

By Chris Edwards
Citizen Journalist

The Garner Magnet High School varsity boys basketball team participated in the 38th annual GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational, which has become one of the most prestigious holiday tournaments in the nation.

Garner Head Coach Eddie Gray and two of his players address the media after the loss to Kinston Monday, Dec. 28. KEN HALL, KENHALLPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Garner Head Coach Eddie Gray and two of his players address the media after the loss to Kinston Monday, Dec. 28. KEN HALL, KENHALLPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Unfortunately for the Trojans, who were making their 16th appearance in the tournament, they got a tough draw in the first game Monday, Dec. 28 against UNC-Chapel Hill signee Reggie Bullock and his Kinston Vikings team.

Before the game, many were wondering how a layoff of almost two weeks would affect the Trojans. Garner last played Tuesday, Dec. 15 when they defeated Clayton. Things started off well for the Trojans Monday as they won the opening tip-off of the game; however, the game got progressively worse for them as Kinston started the first quarter on fire. Bullock had six points, giving the Vikings a 21-8 lead.

As the game continued, it became apparent that the two-week layoff did have an effect on Garner. The Trojans couldn’t find any rhythm on the offensive end, which was obvious from the halftime stats: Garner shot just 38 percent from the field and 16 percent from behind the arc. To compound to their issues, Garner had 11 turnovers in the first half.

With the Trojans struggling to score more points, Kinston’s Bullock took over, scoring 18 first-half points to lead the Vikings to a 37-23 halftime lead.

The second half was more of the same as Garner Head Coach Eddie Gray implored his team to get back into the game by making a run at the Vikings. But anytime Garner got any momentum, Bullock had an answer. At one point midway through the third quarter, Garner had trimmed Kinston’s lead to single digits, but it Bullock answered again, scoring a game-high 30 points as the Vikings cruised to a 73-46 win.

“That was a good ole’ country butt-whooping right there,” Coach Gray said. “I think we had a case of the sophomore jitters.”

With the loss, Garner advanced to the loser’s bracket of the tournament to meet long-time rival Millbrook High School in an elimination game the following day.

SCORING

Kinston 73
Garner 46

Kinston

  • Banks 8
  • Dawson 2
  • Bradshaw 2
  • Reynolds 6
  • Hines 2
  • Dallas Best 12
  • Benoit 2
  • Bullock 30
  • Tyson 9

Garner

  • E. McClain 5
  • J. McClain 2
  • Johnson 13
  • Drane 14
  • Wilson 7
  • Dorsey 1
  • Anderson 4

Kinston 73

Garner 46

Kinston

Banks 8

Dawson 2

Bradshaw 2

Reynolds 6

Hines 2

Dallas Best 12

Benoit 2

Bullock 30

Tyson 9

Garner

E. McClain 5

J. McClain 2

Johnson 13

Drane 14

Wilson 7

Dorsey 1

Anderson 4

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