The Rock Lions's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Saturday after their fourth straight loss. They took a 60-48 hit to the loss column at the hands of Columbia. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as The Rock came into the match with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 16th, while Columbia is ranked 210th).
Columbia's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Marlin Haywood, who scored 16 points along with five rebounds. Haywood is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last three games he's played. Zavian Douglas was another key contributor, scoring 14 points along with eight rebounds.
The Rock's loss dropped their record down to 8-8. As for Columbia, the victory was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 8-5.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. The Rock and Winter Haven will face off at 7:30 p.m. on January 5th without much rest after finishing up games yesterday. One thing working in Winter Haven's favor is that they have posted big point totals every time they've taken the court this season. Columbia and Madison County will face off at 7:30 p.m. on January 6th without much rest after finishing up games yesterday.
