Friday, December 31, 2004

 

12-31-04 - Macklin Puts Up Big Numbers

Charlotte Observer
December 31, 2004
MACKLIN PUTS UP BIG NUMBERS
LANGSTON WERTZ JR., STAFF WRITER

I.C. Norcom center Vernon Macklin couldn't sleep Wednesday night. He said he tossed and turned thinking about playing in the Bojangles' Shootout Thursday.

Turns out he's pretty good with no sleep.

Macklin had a variety of quick dunks and twisting layups in Norcom's 48-42 win against Statesville Christian. Macklin, a 6-foot-9 junior, finished with 20 points, 19 rebounds, six blocks, two steals and two assists.

His rebounds total fell one short of tying Raymond Felton's tournament record.

Macklin was on his way toward a big game after grabbing 10 rebounds in the first three minutes, showcasing uncanny speed and quickness for a player his size. But the game slowed to a halt in the second quarter.

Norcom, up seven, held the ball near halfcourt, inviting Statesville Christian to come out of a zone.

Statesville Christian wouldn't, so the Greyhounds (5-2) held the ball. The Greyhounds started with seven minutes, 39 seconds left and no points were scored until Norcom guard Antonio Williams hit a three-pointer with five seconds left.

Things got so slow that at one point, Norcom coach Horace Lambert called Macklin over to talk to him in the backcourt, a weird sort of one-man timeout that lasted about 25 seconds.

"I was happy about the stall," Macklin said. "I was tired of the zone and I wanted them to play man. I felt I played well, though. I was so pumped up and I couldn't sleep (Wednesday) night. I just wanted to play in this tournament so bad."

About the only thing Macklin didn't do well was make free throws. He was 4-for-12.

"I gotta work on those," he said with a smile, "that was kind of pitiful, huh?"

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