Published: 11:59 PM, Fri Feb 19, 2010
Westover boys top Byrd for Cape Fear Valley title
Westover sweeps conference basketball titles
He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 260 pounds. That's why his Westover boys' basketball teammates call Michael Jones "Big Mike."
A brute-force tackle and defensive end on the football field, Jones was all finesse against upset-minded Douglas Byrd in the Cape Fear Valley tournament championship game Friday night. He took over in the fourth quarter as the second-seeded Wolverines rallied for a 64-55 victory.
"I was a little jumpy in the first half," said Jones, who scored 10 of his team-high 16 points after halftime. "Coach (George Stackhouse) calmed me down and just told me to do what I do, and I went to work."
The fourth-seeded Eagles, who downed top-seeded Southern Lee to reach the title game, used hot shooting to build a 31-26 halftime lead. They led 46-45 entering the fourth, when "Big Mike" decided to take the game over.
Jones scored to open the final frame, giving Westover its first lead since the opening quarter. By the time he headed to the bench with 1 minute and 15 seconds remaining, he had added three more baskets for a commanding 58-52 lead.
"We could do nothing against Mike all night," said Byrd coach Todd Edge, whose team will head to the Class 3-A state playoffs at 12-11 overall. "That is what ended up getting them the game."
The Eagles came out flying behind J.R. Britton, who's third in the county averaging 15.9 points per contest. He shot 4 of 5 from 3-point range in the first half on his way to a game-high 17 points, but 14 of those came before halftime.
This hot shooting made up for Byrd committing eight more turnovers and grabbing 10 less rebounds than Westover (19-5). Kamal Campbell shot 4 of 5 from 3-point range on his way to 14 points for the Eagles, but it wasn't enough to make up for Jones inside.
Stackhouse recalled how his big man was 6-5, 300 pounds when he showed up as a freshman - Jones claims he was more like 290. He's focused more on getting into shape the past couple years, and the junior post said he hopes all his extra work pays off when he hits the football recruiting combines this summer.
But before he turns his mind to the gridiron, Jones and his teammates are planning a long run in the Class 3-A state playoffs.
Stackhouse's platoon style has created a deep bench. Of the 10 players who played Friday, all but one scored. Carlton Ford came off the bench to finish with 10 points.
The team is so balanced that only one Wolverine, Jones (10.1 ppg), is averaging in double figures. The rest are all behind him averaging around eight to nine per contest.
"Everybody played really good, and I'm confident this will help us be ready to go Monday," Stackhouse said. "We also just won four in a row in one week, and it's tough for any team to win four in one week."
Staff writer Paul Shugar can be reached at shugarp@fayobserver.com or 486-3513.