LANSING | When a team starts to near the century mark, it's time to take a look at the record books.
T.F. South used a 31-point fourth quarter to overcome Eisenhower on its way to a 104-94 win. The 104 points scored by the Rebels was the most points scored in a single game in school history. T.F. South's Donald Stone had 26 points and 10 rebounds. Carsie Barnes scored 18 for the Rebels in the win.
"We came out kind of flat," Barnes said. "But all of us came together as a team and our momentum just built from there. We didn't let each other down."
T.F South (2-3, 1-0 South suburban Blue) played from behind most of the game and trailed by five going into the final quarter. Eisenhower's odd substitution pattern of substituting all five players, much like lines in hockey, kept the Cardinals players fresh and the Rebels on their heels throughout the game.
"It was all teamwork," Stone said of the win. "We couldn't have done it without each other. As a team, we found out who our man was, we got back, and we played some defense."
In the second half, the Rebels did a better job against the Eisenhower press and mass substitutions, and T.F. South was able to get some easy baskets after breaking the Cardinals' press.
"It's a quick rotation so you have to be able to pick up your guy," Barnes said of the Eisenhower strategy. "This is our house so we didn't want anyone coming into our house and beating us."
Rebels coach John O'Rourke said the team had worked in practice to simulate what they would see from the Cardinals. O'Rourke was also happy to take the record for most points in a game.
"We did a lot of transition drills this week," O'Rourke said. "Sprinting the floor and finding your man. (athletic director) Mr. (Marc) Brewe, the athletic director, said it was the scoring record so I'm going to stick with it."
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