Lodi’s Reed had break-out game against rival Tigers
Accomplishments: Jaylin Reed has always dreamt about scoring 40 or more points in a basketball game.
But for the Lodi High boys basketball player, a sophomore guard, to accomplish that scene inside a rivalry’s gym came to reality last week.
Playing Tri-City Athletic League and crosstown rival Tokay at The Jungle on Feb. 15, Reed scored a jaw-dropping 41 points. That was half of the Flames’ points in a 86-70 win over the Tigers.
Reed, who led the Flames in scoring with 16 points per game this season that included 66-of187 attempts behind the arc, canned seven 3-pointers in the game. Two of those treys came toward the end of the third quarter, and within a minute of each other and uncontested.
“I didn’t believe it at first,” said Reed after he learned of his accomplishments after the game. “I was just stuck in the moment.”
The Lodi-Tokay score was much closer than the final score. Tokay led 17-14 after the first quarter. Then the Flames jumped out to a 34-26 halftime lead.
“It was an intense game,” said Reed of the LodiTokay finale.
Lodi also picked up its first league win of the season. In addition, the Flames burned down a 21game losing skid. The last time Lodi (1-9 in the TCAL, 5-22) won a game was Dec. 14, posting a 6642 win over Pacheco of Los Banos.
“It was tough,” said Reed of the Flames’ losing skid. “But we just stuck through until the last game.”
But ending that streak against the cross-town rival was sweet for Reed and the Flames. “We played hard,” Reed said. Whether it’s an intense rivalry game like the Lodi-Tokay contest, or shooting around with friends, Reed, who has been playing basketball for
the last 10 years, loves the game. “It’s just fun,” Reed said. His years of learning and playing basketball — past, present and future — is credit toward Reed’s grandfather, Dave Herlnan.
“Just working on dribbling, shooting,” Reed said. “All of the main stuff.”
Now that the regular season is over for the Flames, the training to become a better high school basketball player begins for Reed and returning players. That includes weight training and many AAU basketball games in the spring, summer and fall months. In year’s past, he played in the Lodi Nitro program.
Reed has proven to have a deadly 3-pointer. But what’s more important to him is developing other skills on the court that will make him a better player for the next two Lodi High boys basketball teams’ seasons in 2017-18 and his senior season at 2018-19. That includes ball movement on the court.
“I’m going to continue to work on my dribbling,” Reed said. “Be a better ball handler.”