Chambers helps lead Phoenix to win

The Oberlin Phoenix started fast, got a big game from junior guard Trajen Chambers and came away with a big 63-53 winover Columbia on the road in a Lorain County League contest.

Chambers scored 20 points — 18 in the first half — to lead the Phoenix to the victory.

Oberlin led by as many as 19 points before Columbia rallied to cut the lead to six in the fourth quarter. But clutch play down the stretch from sophomore guard Ty Locklear, who finished with 10 points, helped the Phoenix hold on for the win. Locklear connected on all four of his free throws in the last minute. He also scored a big bucket in transition during the fourth quarter after Columbia had cut the lead to six.

“I thought for the first time this season we jumped on our opponent,” Oberlin coach Kurt Russell said.

Columbia didn’t help itself as it struggled mightily from the field during the first two quarters connecting on two of 14 3-pointers in falling behind, 36-22, at the half.

Columbia opted to bomb away from distance against Oberlin’s zone and the strategy did not pay off.

“We settled for too many

OBERLIN 63, COLUMBIA 53

3s and did a bad job of attacking,” Columbia coach Larry Babics said. “We’ll normally live and die with those corner 3s, but man, on our own home floor, that was bad.”

The Raiders also did not do a good job of taking care of the basketball. They turned the ball over six times in the first quarter and 11 in the half to dig themselves a hole they ultimately couldn’t emerge from.

Oberlin led, 19-8, after the first quarter and 49-36 after three.

Chambers tortured Columbia early and often. He scored six straight points in the first quarter to help the Phoenix build a 12- 4 lead. All of those buckets came at the rim.

He scored 12 points during a stretch in the second quarter that helped the Phoenix stretch the lead to 36-17.

“He (Chambers) played well tonight,” said Russell. “He shot the ball well, but more important he was a great leader with his effort. We’re glad to have him on our ball club,” Russell added.

The 5-foot-11 Chambers, who has a wiry frame, was able to get into the paint and finish through contact.

He also grabbed seven rebounds and was disruptive on defense.

“We came out with a lot of urgency,” said Chambers, who said his coach challenged his team to attack the rim before the contest.

Babics said he knew entering the contest that Chambers would be a difficult matchup.

“He’s the guy that I think is toughest for us to guard. He can play inside and outside and he did a great job tonight. We just didn’t answer that. To his credit, he lit us up, there is no doubt about it,” Babics said.

Senior guard Giles Harrell also had a nice game for Oberlin. He finished with 19 points with 10 of the coming in the second half.

Brandon Fisher scored 16 points to lead Columbia and Charlie Simon added 13 points and 13 rebounds for Raiders who dropped to 6-2 in the conference with both those losses coming to Oberlin. Columbia fell to 9-3 overall. Oberlin improved to 5-3 in the conference with the win and 7-5 overall

Columbia trailed by 17 in the third quarter, but went on a 16-5 run to close the lead to just six in the fourth quarter, but just couldn’t complete comeback.

“Give them all the credit in the world. That wasn’t a fluke. They beat us,” Babics said.