Lackey wins 200th as Melrose romps

CLOVIS - Making the ordinary plays was what got the Melrose Buffaloes an early lead Thursday night. Hot shooting and hustle for extraordinary plays turned it into a blowout.

Melrose led by double digits for the final 18 minutes and by as much as 34 in the second half of an 80-53 win, giving the family of Buffs coach Kevin Lackey plenty of time to fill his office with 200 balloons to celebrate that many wins over nine seasons with Dora and Melrose.

"That just means I've coached a bunch of great kids," he said, referring mostly to the Buffaloes he's coached to the last two 1A titles and possibly to the four of his own that laid waste to the balloon smorgasbord in his office.

The victory never seemed in doubt for the Buffs (19-1, 4-0 District 6-1A), but a pair of runs highlighted the rout. With Melrose already up 31-22, a long outlet pass sailed past the streaking Sterling Sena. He got to the ball at just the last second and flipped a blind pass that found Tate Sorgen for an and-one basket. He missed the ensuing free throw, but scored again on the offensive rebound before sealing the personal 7-0 run with a completed three-point play on the ensuing possession.

The Buffaloes closed out the first half with Trace Jackson hitting a buzzer-beating trey from the edges of the center-court Melrose logo, and when the teams returned the 15-0 run concluded with Jackson and Dylan Valentine each hitting a pair of 3-pointers to make it 55-25.

"The difference between the third and first is we hit perimeter shots," Lackey said.

The only real solace for Logan (12-10, 2-3), led by Michael Sena's 16 points, was the players were still diving for loose balls down 30 and rallied enough in the second half to prevent the running clock.

"We knew they were good shooters," Logan coach Kyle Griffiths said. "We defended them well in the first quarter, but once they get hot there's not a lot you can do."

The Buffaloes hit nine threes on the night, Valentine five and Jackson four, to provide a complement to Sorgen's 23 on the interior.

Sorgen could have easily had a 30-point night, but frequently found his outside shooters and fellow big man Devon Bailey, who had eight.

"We work on that like crazy in practice," Lackey said. "Everybody dives and digs against our posts. We don't want them going 1-on-3, so they have to be able to pass it."

Valentine had 17 for the Buffaloes, while Jackson had 14.