Boys Basketball: Rich East surprises Rich South

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Updated: February 16, 2012 8:21AM

It’s a new year for the Rich East basketball team.

After recording twice as many defeats as victories to start the 2011-12 season, the Rockets have won back-to-back games in impressive fashion to ring in the new year. Their latest conquest came Friday night, a 52-42 upset over Southland Conference rival Rich South.

“This is our biggest win of the season, no question about it,” coach George Leonard said. “(Rich South) had been playing great. Our big thing was that this could be a new season for us.

“Our kids bought in, and it really showed tonight.”

Down 29-27 in the third quarter, Rich East (7-10, 2-2) exploded for nine unanswered points to turn the tide. Ronald Lawton scored all five of his points during the stretch, starting with an alley-oop dunk on a set play.

Tenacious perimeter defense led to a Rich East steal, and Anthony Perkins (13 points) brought the crowd to a fever pitch picking up a foul on a thunderous transition dunk. Lawton finished the surge with a driving layup and ensuing free throw for a three-point play and a 36-29 lead.

“This was a big game for us,” Perkins said. “South is an archrival, and our team put in all the hard work we needed this week.”

After a last-second win a week prior over Bloom, No. 4 Rich South fell to 14-5, 3-1. The Stars, looking lackadaisical on offense, turned the ball over 18 times.

“(Rich East) dominated us on the glass, they got to every loose ball and we walked around unenthused,” South coach Scot Ritter said. “It’s not the first time we’ve lacked consistency.”

South was led by John Ruffins (14 points, 8 rebounds) and Ralph Abraham (8 points).