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By: Brian Smith

LaFayette’s senior night saw its two best offensive weapons combine for 44 points en route to an 84 to 75 win over visiting Wadley. Jordan Johnson and Quintavious Lloyd were on a mission to dismantle the opposing defense and they did it in a variety of ways.

The first possession of the game saw Johnson drill a three-ball and that was a barometer of what was to come. Lloyd’s only triple of the game came in the first stanza and placed LaFayette up 14 to 13. He was just getting started.

Lloyd had an uncontested layup and two more buckets in the final moments of the first quarter to help LaFayette lead 24-14 after one period of play. The lead swelled to 30-16 as a bevy of LaFayette players were passing the basketball well and finding open shooters. Wadley wouldn’t go away, however.

Wadley stayed in the contest for the majority of the game because of its tenacity and the unequaled raw athleticism of guard Frisco Robinson. Besides his two high-flying dunks, he was attacking the rim all night and finished with 19 points. He also had two tremendous blocked shots despite being just 5-foot-10. It was still Johnson making the most of a moment that changed the game.

With only a couple of seconds remaining before halftime, He took the inbounds pass and heaved a shot from three-quarter court. He was fouled in the act of shooting by Wadley’s Ty’Quavion Wilkes and knocked home each of the freebies to put LaFayette up 41 to 31 at the break. At that point, Johnson already had 15 points in the scorer’s book.

The third quarter started like the first, as Johnson drilled another shot from deep. Careless ball handling helped Wadley stay alive and the gap closed to 44-39 in the middle of the third quarter. A massive two-handed slam by LaFayette’s Jayden Thomanson helped ignite LaFayette yet again and the home Bulldogs finished the third quarter strong to lead 66-52 going into the fourth quarter.

Good shooting and timely passes for easy buckets underneath the hoop helped LaFayette fend off a late Wadley rally. Of course, Johnson and Lloyd were prevalent with their scoring yet again. Of the 18 points LaFayette scored in the quarter, each of the two seniors had 7 points during the final period.

Besides Johnson’s 26 and Lloyd’s 18, Julian Robinson had 9, Cameron Thomas 6, and Thomanson 6.