Generals pull rank in post against Appomattox in Dogwood semis

NARUNA — Basketball and football teammates, William Campbell’s Maxie Crews, Ozell Yuille and Damiun Lockett have learned the value of selflessness in competition.

In the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s 52-44 win over Appomattox in the Dogwood District tournament Division 1 final, Crews, who shifted from wide receiver to quarterback in football this past fall, trading places with Lockett midseason, didn’t hesitate to give the ball up rather than go for a contested jam on transition.

With the Generals (15-7) leading 38-35, Crews (15 points) intercepted a pass from the Raiders’ Jamie Mosley and started a fast break before giving it up for an across-the-lane assist to Lockett.

""In that situation, Maxie knew he had to push the ball and Damiun’s running with him and he gives him an option," William Campbell coach Robbie St. John said. "Everyone thought Maxie was going to go up to dunk it and he drew two guys, so he wraps a pass around and Damiun gets a wide-open layup."

Midway through the fourth quarter, with Appomattox center Xavier Lawing (10 points) on the bench in foul trouble, Yuille drove down the right side of the lane before dishing it off to Crews in the middle, where he extended the lead to 46-41.

Yuille, who scored a game-high 19 points, capped the second- and third-quarter scoring with buzzer-beating 3-pointers from the left and right corners, putting the Generals up 19-16 at the half and 36-33.

"When Ozell gets hot, he’s dangerous," St. John said. "But what helps us with him with his length is he’s able to see the floor and there’s a lot of times where I think he would want to shoot that 3 and he still feeds inside and works off of that."

Crews, who plays on the perimeter with his AAU team, usually draws double teams as he works with his back to the basket in the post. Still, he rarely forces bad shots.

"When they give me the ball down low and the defense sucks in, I usually kick it out to Ozell and he will usually be open," Crews said. "I just work all my teammates in."

The Raiders (7-14) got 15 points from Josh Wilson, who capped two fast breaks with layups midway through the third quarter, tying the game at 27 and 31. Early in the fourth quarter, Lawing converted a putback in the right side of the lane before finishing a powerful inside score. He then stripped the ball from a General and sent a long outlet to Wilson for another uncontested breakaway score, drawing the Generals back within 40-39.

Quan Moore then faked a 3-point shot and drove from the right wing for a layup that put Appomattox on top. But Lawing picked up his fourth foul fighting for an offensive rebound on the next possession and the Generals went on an 11-0 run to take control. The Raiders had to settle for errant 3-point shots for the final five minutes.

"When Boo [Lawing] comes out of the game, it’s hard to stay two-dimensional on offense, so we end up going drive and kick and drive and kick," Appomattox coach Travis Cottrell said. "If you’re not hitting those shots, you can’t score points, especially when your big guy’s out of the game and you don’t have somebody down low banging around and getting those rebounds."

Campbell rides a five-game winning streak into Friday’s final at undefeated Dan River. The Wildcats dealt the Generals two of their three Dogwood District losses.

"We’re going to have to work together and play harder than we usually play," Yuille said.

"We’re going to have to capitalize on opportunities we get at the rim on offense, but mainly, play together, play with heart and defense is going to win us the game," Crews added.