Boys Basketball: Hyde Park rolls by Harper as Lamont Bryant era officially ends

Updated: January 17, 2012 8:57PM

After a early morning meeting with Hyde Park principal Thomas Trotter, the Lamont Bryant era is officially over as Bryant submitted his resignation as basketball coach and it was accepted by Trotter.

The reins of who will run the team was handed over to assistant coach Antonne Samuels on a interim basis.

Samuels was at the helm when the team suffered a loss at the hands of Mount Carmel at the Bob Hambric classic at T.F. North but the team rebounded with a 91-37 Red-Central victory over Harper at home Tuesday.

Samuel’s said the team was really embarrassed with that loss but it was understandable with all the distractions.

“They are still kids and the had to digest a lot in a short time and had were just not focused,” said Samuels. “We got back to playing the way we know we can play today.”

The Thunderbirds (7-5, 4-1) were on fire from the start as they raced out to a 27-0 lead in the first quarter behind junior guard Kyle Davis, who scored 18 points during the run.

Forward Phillip Lee scored 10 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had three block shots in the first quarter as Hyde Park built a 33-6 lead. The Cardinals did not score until the 2:09 mark in the first quarter.

Davis led all scorers with 33 points and five steals while Lee finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Moshawn Thomas and Frank Williams scored 10 points each.

Marquise Jones led Harper with 13 points.

“We miss coach Bryant, it felt funny looking over there and not seeing him,” said Davis. “Coach Samuels has been around and we feel comfortable with him we just have to adjust to the situation.”

Harper coach Charlie Sales said he was hoping that adjustment period would take a little longer.

“We were hoping to catch them off their game but that didn’t happen.” said Sales. “We looked like the team going through something instead of them.”

The Cardinals fell to 4-10, 2-2.

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