With its two 6-foot-5 starters on the bench injured, No. 16 Long Reach looked to be ripe for an upset last night at Liberty, trailing by five early in the second quarter and unable to find its rhythm on offense.
In the end, however, it was a 5-foot-4 point guard who made certain that the Lightning didn't miss a beat in an 82-51 win.
Junior Mike Smelkinson scored a game-high 19 points and keyed the pressure defense that gave the host Lions fits throughout the second quarter. Down 20-15 after hitting just six of its first 29 shots, Long Reach (2-0) began forcing turnovers and went on a 24-2 run to change the complexion of the game over the next 5:29.
"I just threw in about eight guys who are all pretty athletic and quick. You could see we were kind of wearing them down," Lightning coach Al Moraz said. "We were missing our two big guys ... but other kids stepped up big tonight."
Brian Chestnut (sprained ankle) and Zach Hines (concussion) were injured in Long Reach's season opener and could miss another week.
Smelkinson, however, played a key role with several steals, then using his speed off the dribble to blow past defenders and then shoot or pass. The Lightning shot 57 percent from the field the final 22 minutes.
"We were playing aggressive in the second quarter and pressing on them," Smelkinson said. "I love doing that."
Liberty (0-1), meanwhile, was hurt when Willard Nick was forced to the bench with two fouls late in the first quarter.
"We played well in the first quarter, but Nick got in foul trouble early, and that takes a lot of offense and rebounding away from us," Liberty coach Steve Johnson said. "We shook a little bit at the pressure."
Long Reach extended its lead to 49-25 by midway through the third quarter and was never again threatened. The Lightning is trying to build on last year's 18-6 season and is considered the favorite in Howard County.
Johnson said that he couldn't be overly disappointed, especially since his team won just three games a year ago.
"We're going to be a lot better than this," Johnson said. "This game just got away from us. This is the most talented time I've had in the three years I've been here."