Zhaire Smith leads Lakeview in 2-OT win over South Garland

South Garland - Zhaire Smith led Lakeview Centennial in scoring with 25 points and fellow senior, Brendan Brooks added 18 of his own in one of the more exciting games of the year. Lakeview Centennial (22-3, 5-0) was on the road at South Garland (4-1) and took the game 65-62 in double overtime.

South Garland led by five, 60-55 with 2:34 seconds left in the second overtime, but Lakeview would take the lead 62-60 after a Nicolas Rene tying three-pointer and a layup by Marlon Sims, which were his only points of the game.

Lakeview went on a 10-2 run to close out the District 10-6A victory, and it was Smith who completed a three-point play to finish off the game with 1.2 seconds left.

"One of our biggest strengths is that we never panic," said head coach JT Locklear. "We have been put into this situation six or seven times this year, and our guys don't worry about it. They know that we can come back because we are really good defensively.

"And another thing that pulls us together and gets us through tight games is our bench. We have the best group of players who care for one another, and that is uplifting in games like tonight. They are the best bench in the entire state of Texas."

Late in overtime, Locklear changed up defenses and went to a 1-2-2 which forced the South Garland Colonels to take deep shots.

South Garland was led by their two sophomores, Chris Harris and Tyrese Maxey. Harris scored 25 and Maxey dropped in 24.

"I knew that we couldn't guard [Maxey] one-on-one the entire game and we wanted to force the ball out of his hands. We were looking to get them into a set play and create a little chaos, and it worked in our favor," Locklear concluded.

The chaos that Lakeview created allowed them to tie the game at 60 after a three-pointer by junior Rene on the left wing in front of Lakeview's bench.

"I had missed a few threes earlier, but I felt that if I had another opportunity, I would take it," said Rene who finished with 13 points. "I've shot that shot a hundred times, and the ball felt good leaving my hands. It was a perfect pass, and I was in rhythm."

Playing all 40 minutes of the game was senior point guard Brooks of the Patriots. Coach Locklear says Brooks is one of the toughest players he's ever coached.

"[Brendan] is the toughest 5-foot-10 guard that you'll ever see and that I've ever coached. He is willing to put it all out on the line, and he did tonight.

"He did whatever we needed, and he guarded Maxey most of the second half, and I thought he did a great job at times slowing him down."

"This was supposed to be the big game of district so far, and it turned out to be a great game," said Brooks. "Physically I was tired, but mentally I wanted to stay in and play. I never planned on coming out of the game. Coach always says that point guards need to keep their composure, so the whole team will feed off those emotions, and stay strong, so that's what I did."

Smith didn't start the game and sat out most of the first quarter, but as soon as he touched the floor, he was a huge impact for the Patriots.

"Zhaire is a special kid, he can do things offensively now that he couldn't do two months ago," Locklear said. "We are a lot better because of his play and the way he can change a game on both ends of the court."

To go along with his 25 points, Smith totaled seven rebounds, one assist, and one block.