Published: January 21, 2008 10:28 am         

Garrett gets by Catonsville in two overtimes

Greenfield, Lewis combine to score 46 in 76-68 victory

MCHENRY - Shawn Greenfield scored a game-high 28 points, J.T. Lewis had 18 points in a huge performance off the bench, and Garrett shook of a disastrous first half and rallied to beat Catonsville, 76-68 in double overtime, Saturday evening.

Greenfield hit nine field goals and five free throws to lead all scorers as the Lakers improved to 12-5 overall and 5-3 in the Maryland JUCO Conference.

Lewis scored 18 points and had team highs with 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals, and Glen Izevbigie had eight points, hit two big foul shots in the second overtime, and had six rebounds for the Lakers.

Kareem Downs had 17 points and Ernest McGill and Justin Umble 13 for Catonsville.

Garrett was unable to muster much of anything on offense in the first half, and trailed 28-18 at the break.

Lewis scored 16 of his 18 points after halftime to help jump start the offense.

Catonsville had the ball with a chance to win at the end of regulation and the first overtime but was denied by the Garrett defense. The game was tied at 51 at the end of regulation and at 58 after the first overtime.

"We were really struggling in the first half to make a basket. We became frustrated and that made it worst,'' admitted Garrett coach Dennis Gibson. "We changed up our defense to try to become more pressure-oriented and the guys did a good job with it.

"J.T. Lewis did a great job sparking us, and Shawn Greenfield played a solid game and really stepped up in the final overtime."

Greenfield hit a three-pointer, a two-pointer and a pair of foul shots for seven straight points in the final overtime for Garrett. Izevbigie canned two foul shots with the Lakers clinging to a slim lead in the final minute.

It was the second overtime win in a week for Garrett, which won at Allegany 67-65 in overtime last Saturday.

"We feel very fortunate to win this game. Catonsville was a bit undermanned size-wise but outplayed us at times and got us a bit flustered,'' Gibson said.

Garrett will host Montgomery-Takoma Park on Wednesday at 7:30.