Lee’s LeProvost reaches 1,000 points with win over Lenox

LEE – Star shooting guard Jake LeProvost reached the pinnacle of high school basketball milestones, 1,000 career points, when he scored 32 points in a 72-53 Wildcat win over Lenox.

“[LeProvost] works hard all year round, and he is the ultimate leader and team player,” said Lee Head Coach Dan Korte. “This is a fantastic honor and accomplishment that he is very deserving of.”

LeProvost hit his signature shot – a three-pointer, from the top of the key – for his 1,000th career point with 1:54 left in the game, after the Lenox team was set on stopping him by sending two or three guys on the perimeter to try to stop him.

“It was tough, they were really keying on me the whole game, their defense was crazy – I have to give credit to my teammates they were setting me a bunch of picks – they got me open for the shot at the end,” LeProvost said after the game.

LeProvost significantly added to his point total in the third quarter with 11 points, to give him 17 heading into the final frame, with the biggest points coming off a steal and thunderous dunk to put his team ahead 47-38.

“That was it,” said LeProvost when he realized he could reach 32 by the end of the night.

LeProvost was held to only six points in the first half by Lenox’s box-and-one scheme that limited him to off-balance three-pointers and tough low-post shots where he was often double-teamed.

However, at the start of the third, he decided to hit the boards, where he scored six points in the opening minutes of the third on rebounds, steals and put backs from underneath.

“That was our game plan going in, we were a lot bigger then they were and rebounding was going to be the key, and our coach told me to find another way to score – so I did,” LeProvost said.

The Wildcats opened the second half with Heamon Williams (17 points, 18 rebounds) adding a put back from underneath, while LeProvost followed with a rebound and going coast-to-coast for the score.

LeProvost added a strong power post move underneath for a 58-42 lead, giving him 21 points with six minutes to go.

LeProvost quickly added a three-pointer from the top of the key before Lenox implemented a smothering two to three man pressure defense solely on LeProvost to keep him off the scoreboard.

The plan backfired as LeProvost was able to draw blocking fouls and get to the line in the final minutes to hit five out of six free throws to give him 29 points with just under three minutes left.

After missing a couple of three-point shots, LeProvost knocked down his 1,000th career point while coming off several picks from his teammates.

Coach Korte praised LeProvost’s effort in the second half to not only reach the milestone but to help his team win the game.

“One of the best things a guy can do against a box-and-one is hit the glass,” Korte said. “LeP’s a fantastic rebounder and they didn’t have anyone that could keep him off the glass, he’s smart and understands the game and knows how to find different ways to contribute when the first option isn’t there.”

Lee wrapped up its season on Tuesday night, with a 69-53 win over Mt. Everett, to give them a respectable 12-8 record heading into the post-season.

“We are executing and jelling at the right time – and part of it is we are starting to trust each other and now we have third and fourth scoring options stepping up with very good defense and rebounding  – we are hitting our stride at the right time,” Korte said.

Posted by Tim Davis on February 21, 2013. Filed under High School Sports,Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry