Rebels’ shooting red hot as Rockets flame out

Published 10:47 am Thursday, February 12, 2009

By Robert Carter

The North Jefferson News



VESTAVIA HILLS — There’s hot, and then there’s scorching.

Vestavia Hills was absolutely scorching, as they hit 19-of-23 from the floor for an astounding 82.6 percent, as the Rebels ripped Gardendale 60-41, ending the Rockets’ season in the semifinals of the Class 6A Area 12 boys’ tournament Friday.

Vestavia, going for longtime coach George Hatchett’s 500th career victory, was even better in the first half with a perfect 9-of-9 from the field.

Gardendale could find no answer for Rebels’ big man Jordan Swing. The 6-foot-6 Western Kentucky signee was unstoppable, hitting all seven of his first half baskets that included four 3-pointers.

Swing didn’t miss until he uncharacteristically air-balled a 3-point shot shortly after halftime, causing him to shake his head in disbelief.

Rockets coach Mark Cornelius was also shaking his head, but for an entirely different reason.

“We just couldn’t weather the storm early,” he said. “We played behind from the get-go. They dictated the whole game. I can’t believe we were so bad on defense to give up that kind of shooting.”

Cornelius knew that Swing would be tough to handle from their previous two meetings this season, and had concentrated the Rockets’ practice on him.

“We practiced for three days on locating him, to not let him get off too early,” Cornelius said. “But they were shooting so well I was scared to go into a zone. If we had, they would’ve just held the ball.”

Swing finished the game with 31 points, including a faultless 5-of-5 from the foul line in the last quarter.

The Rebels (21-8) held a 10-point advantage at halftime, and maintained that lead throughout the third period.

In the fourth, Gardendale showed fleeting signs of closing in on the hosts, as Drew Faile knocked down a three with 5:17 left to cut the margin to five points.

Hatchett immediately called time out, and Vestavia responded by going on a tear, with Swift scoring nine points on a 21-7 run down the stretch to ice the game.

The Rebels pulled down 25 rebounds, but only two on the offensive end.

Nigel Ramsey paced the Rockets (19-8) with 21 points. Like Swing, he was the only double-digit scorer for his team. Faile’s five rebounds led Gardendale.