Monroe whips No.3-ranked Booker T. Washington in Round Ball Classic

LEESBURG – Looking at the matchup between the Monroe Golden Tornadoes and the Golden Eagles of Booker T. Washington of Tuskegee in the Round Ball Classic at Lee County High School, you might think it would be a blowout for the Alabama boys.

Booker T. Washington entered Leesburg with a 13-1 record and ranked No. 3 in Alabama. Monroe came into the game with just two wins and six losses. But the blowout happened the other way.

The Golden Eagles swished a three to open the game but when Monroe’s Lorenzo Still nailed a three from the corner late in the first, Monroe was ahead 15-5. The Golden Tornadoes pushed the lead to 32-15 at the half and led by 30 points -52-22, midway through third when Monroe Head Coach Michael Hoffpauir pulled back the full-court press and sent players such as James Adams, Chase Dixon, and Lamonond Seadrow to the bench for a rest.

“We beat an excellent team tonight,” Hoffpauir said. That starts with our defense. James Adams did an excellent job defending the big man and took him out of the game. We played the right way by sharing the ball, which led to big baskets.

“Lamond Seadrow stepped up today as well,” Hoffpauir added. “He scored some key baskets and grabbed some big rebounds.”

Seadrow finished with a team-high 21 points to lead Monroe’s scoring effort. Still put in 15 points, and Braylen Burns added 10.