Boys Basketball: Morgan Park battles back to top Harlan

Updated: January 31, 2012 7:44PM

Billy Garrett Jr. was challenged by his coach to carry his team. Garrett, Jr. , in turn, challenged his teammates and prodded Morgan Park to a 62-47 victory over Harlan in a Red-South contest on Tuesday.

``I got on Billy at halftime,’’ Mustangs coach Nick Irvin said. ``I told him to put the team on his back and he did.’’

Morgan Park (11-7, 5-2) trailed at half 24-20. The Mustangs’ offense was stagnant but for Garrett, Jr. who had 10 points. The Mustangs were shooting 33 percent and committed 13 turnovers and were getting outrebounded 21-16.

``In the first half, we were not as aggressive as a team,’’ Garrett, Jr. said. ``It was my job to be a leader and get the troops going.’’

Eddie Miles and Josh Cunningham stepped up immediately with four points each to start the second half. But it was the return of 6-9, center Xzavier Taylor from a right knee injury that provided the spark which finally helped the Mustangs pull away.

Taylor played limited first half minutes but stepped to the forefront with three baskets and and a strong defensive presence at the end of the third quarter. Taylors’ points came during a quarter ending 10-1 run that led Morgan Park to a 41-33 lead. It was the junior’s first action since December 27th.

``It felt real good to be back out there again,’’ Taylor said. ``The knee is fine. I had two good days of practice before I got out here.’’

``He is a big body in there and the defense started collapsing on him,’’ Garrett, Jr. said. ``That opened up space for me on the perimeter.’’

Garrett, Jr. maintained his steady scoring pace by scoring two baskets during the third quarter run. The junior guard then opened the fourth quarter with a pair of three-pointers that helped the Mustangs a 49-33 lead which was tied for the biggest lead of the game. Garrett, Jr. finished with 27 points.

Cunningham finished with 10 and Taylor had eight points and six rebounds.

Torian Pearson led Harlan (12-8, 4-4) with 10 points. Anthony Knight pulled down 11 rebounds for the Falcons.

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