Locals begin soccer playoffs
February 5, 2013
LSU, NSU have big hoops weekends
February 5, 2013
An era will come to an end this week in Tri-parish prep basketball.
Vandebilt Catholic guards Lionheart Leslie and Elijah McGuire will lace ‘em up for the final time in regular season action.
Sure, from here, the Terriers are headed to the playoffs where they will probably play a bunch of games.
But when the final horn sounds in Friday night’s game with Ellender, it will mark the final time the great Vandebilt one-two punch will team up in action against a local foe.
What a ride it has been for the two talented and wildly entertaining players.
For the past three years, Leslie and McGuire have dominated the local hardwood.
Vandebilt’s duo really landed on the map two seasons ago when both Leslie and McGuire were sophomores.
Since, the two players have been among the best in Louisiana, wowing opponents and college scouts with versatility, statistics and success.
Just how good have the Terriers been under Leslie and McGuire’s watch?
Let the stats do the talking.
Since the duo’s sophomore seasons, Vandebilt has not lost a home game.
None. Not a single one. The closest the team came to a home defeat this season came on Jan. 8 when the Terriers overcame South Terrebonne in a 43-40 victory – a game that Leslie didn’t even play in.
Just to put the undefeated streak into perspective, here’s another stat.
No other team in the Tri-parish area is undefeated at home this season alone. Most teams have multiple setbacks on their home floor.
What the Terriers have done at home is unprecedented and is an accomplishment that should not go unlooked or unappreciated.
It’s something we probably won’t see for a while within our area – which is usually stricken with parity and the top teams all beating one another throughout the season.
As one can guess, with the home dominance in hand, Vandebilt has absolutely ruled district games since their one-two punch has been in town.
Assuming the Terriers defeated Morgan City last night in a game with no score available at press time, Leslie and McGuire have led the Terriers to undefeated records in district play for three-straight seasons.
That success obviously means the team has won three-straight district titles.
What makes Leslie and McGuire’s story so interesting is that neither player looks the part of a basketball standout.
They both are uniquely out of place in their own way.
Let’s start with Leslie – last year’s offensive and defensive MVP in District 8-4A.
He doesn’t figure to be the king of local hoops for a simple reason – the guy’s short. Leslie stands below 6-feet tall.
But on the floor, he’s as effective as a 6-foot, 5-inch combo guard.
That’s because Leslie is the quickest prep basketball player that I’ve ever seen. His first step is like lightening in a bottle. He gets the ball on the wing and is gone.
By the time the defense notices what’s going on, he’s at the rim for an easy hoop.
To combat his driving ability, teams have bottled the lane against the Terriers. By and large, it hasn’t worked. Leslie still somehow finds a way to get to the hoop.
The most memorable game where this was on display was last season’s game between the Terriers and Ellender inside the House of Pain.
During that game, McGuire left with a broken foot – an injury that allowed the Patriots to double and even triple team Leslie.
With his bottom lip split wide open from contact he absorbed in the game, Leslie overcame it all, dropping 29 points in a hard-fought victory.
It was one of the greatest individual efforts these eyes have seen.
But McGuire’s story isn’t half bad either.
He, too, is a jaw-dropping highlight machine.
Like Leslie, McGuire doesn’t resemble a basketball player in build.
That’s because the hardwood isn’t McGuire’s only home.
His most dominant sport is football – where he has committed to extend his playing career at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
While there, he will likely be a running back or a receiver inside the team’s potent spread offensive attack.
But on the basketball floor, McGuire is equally explosive. Where Leslie is more a scorer and slasher, McGuire is a better distributer and shooter.
The Vandebilt guard is able to easily penetrate the lane and kick the ball out to one of the team’s shooting threats.
When unguarded by opponents, McGuire can stoke the basketball himself – he’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the area.
That was evident from the first time I witnessed McGuire on the hardwood – a game against South Lafourche.
McGuire walked the ball up the floor and rose up for a 3-pointer. The shot glided gracefully through the air before splashing the net.
The next time down the floor, McGuire did the same thing. He walked the ball up the floor and then calmly splashed a 3-pointer before the defense even realized he was there.
This would have been a routine shot until I noticed where McGuire was standing – just a few steps inside of the half-court line. These shots were being rained in from well beyond the NBA’s 3-point line.
Needless to say, McGuire wasn’t left alone again the rest of the night. The Tarpons swarmed him as soon as he crossed half court.
Of course, it needs to be said that Leslie and McGuire’s achievements wouldn’t be possible without a slew of talented role players who have sacrificed shots, playing time and personal glory for the sake of team success.
Those efforts should not be overlooked in basketball – the sport that relies on teamwork more-so than any other.
But only greatness equals greatness.
Leslie and McGuire are that – great.
Their final games as prep players will mark the end of a chapter of dominance in local prep basketball.
Mark me down as one who will truly miss seeing the one-two punch play on Tuesday and Friday nights in the winter months.
Vandebilt Catholic guards Lionheart Leslie rises up for shots during games this season.
