3 observations from Bartlett’s win over Cordova

<p>Bartlett set the tempo early Friday night against Cordova, and it remained that way for the rest of the game.</p> <p>It was the Wolfpack’s Senior Night, but Cordova didn’t play like it was a special night that featured a nice-sized crowd. The Panthers simply outplayed the Wolfpack in their 55-35 win for the season sweep. Bartlett’s win on the road was huge since the Panthers have to go back to Cordova next Tuesday night for a district tournament game.</p> <p>The winner will move on, while the loser’s season will come to an end.</p> <p>Bartlett has the momentum, especially the way the Panthers out-hustled and outplayed the Wolfpack from start to finish.</p> <p>Here are 3 observations from Bartlett’s win over Cordova:</p> <p><strong>The Wolfpack came out flat and didn’t recover</strong></p> <p>Cordova got behind early, but was able to tie the game 10-all off two free throws by junior guard <strong>Calvin</strong> <strong>Jennings</strong>. Jennings split free throws to give the Wolfpack a one-point lead, which would be its only lead of the game. After that, Cordova fell apart on both ends of the floor. The Wolfpack rushed a lot of their shot attempts and gave up easy scores in transition and in half-court. Cordova was without junior guard <b>RJ</b> <b>Seals</b>, but the Wolfpack had everyone else on the floor.</p> <p>It was very telling how flat Cordova was when the Panthers built a double-digit lead early in the third quarter. The Wolfpack didn’t have a single player to finish the night in double figures. </p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/rickey-lofties/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/rickey-lofties/">Rickey Lofties</a></a> can’t be left open</strong></p> <p>The senior guard knocked down back-to-back uncontested 3s to start the third quarter after <strong>Marcellus</strong> <strong>Boyd’s</strong> 3 cut Cordova’s deficit to 24-18. Then another score by Lofties put his team up 32-18. Lofties knocked down one more 3 late in the fourth quarter when his team was well on its way to a victory. He finished with 16 points.</p> <p>“Everyone knows Rickey can shoot the ball,” Bartlett head coach Dion Real said. “When it’s falling for him, it stretches things out. It makes it a whole lot easier for Will (Farris) to get to the paint. So, now you can’t help off Rickey. It opens up things for everybody when Rickey is making that shot.”</p> <p>Farris led the team with 17 points and was able to get into the lane with ease. He loves to slash.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaylin-lucas/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaylin-lucas/">Jaylin Lucas</a></a> sparked energy for the Panthers</strong></p> <p>Lucas started the game with a monster dunk, then he had a putback dunk moments later. That sparked Bartlett’s energy for the rest of the game. Not only is he athletic, but he’s active on both ends of the floor. Lucas is the energy guy everyone needs as a teammate.</p> <p>“<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaylin-lucas/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaylin-lucas/">Jaylin Lucas</a></a> is such a talent,” Real said. “When he gets going, I think everyone feeds off of his energy.”</p>