Boys basketball: Hayward 61, Heritage 47

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Mar 5, 2009 | by Tony Gonsalez

Hayward 61, Heritage 47: The host Farmers got a boost from two unlikely sources as Dimicco Jackson scored 12 points while grabbing 10 rebounds, and Adrian Pyles held Heritage playmaker Jordan Knox in check as the host Farmers advanced to the Division II finals for the second straight year.

Jackson had 10 points in the second half as the Farmers (19-8) were finally able to shake off the determined Patriots with a 12-3 run to end the third quarter with a 44-31 advantage.

Pyles scored four points off the bench for Hayward, but it was his presence on the defensive side that gave the Farmers push.

Frustrated by Pyles' defense, Knox was held to 3-of-10 shooting before fouling out with 4:43 left. The senior finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, both team-highs. He was 10-for-13 from the free-throw line.

Hayward got off to a strong start, scoring the first eight points of the game, but the Patriots bounced back to take a 15-13 lead. The Farmers held a seven point lead going into halftime.

Davion Berry had a solid all-around effort for Hayward, finishing with a game-high 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

-- Tony Gonsalez, correspondent