LANGLEY - When you're coaching in front of your teammate, your mentor, you don't want to disappoint. In Meadowlark Lemon's eyes, Bruce Capers did just fine.
Despite a furious second-half rally by Capers' young Aiken Tech team, the efforts weren't enough. Behind Will Shackleford's game-high 33 points, Coastal Georgia Community College powered its way to a 76-68 victory Wednesday.
"I think he did a real good job," Lemon said. "It's a real young team. It's going to be up them to grasp what he's trying to teach them."
Lemon sat in the stands just behind the bench watching the action. The "Clown Prince of Basketball" and former Harlem Globetrotter is in Aiken this week for Saturday's performance of his "Meadowlark Lemon's Harlem All-Stars" at USC Aiken.
Aiken Tech (3-8), with 12 freshmen on its 15-man roster, could've used some of Lemon's old tricks. Instead, it was Shackleford who shredded the Knights' defense into confetti. The 6-foot-5 freshman dominated in the paint and was almost unstoppable with the ball.
Shackleford scored seven points during a 13-0 run late in the first half. He capped the spell by bulldozing a path to the basket for a layup, getting fouled and yelling out, "And One!" He made the free throw to push the Mariners lead to 35-19.
The Knights trailed by 15 early in the second half but found its rhythm inside the paint. Tavaris Little and Desmond Walters each made layups to cap a 17-4 run. Aiken Tech trailed 48-44.
Aside from that brief spell, the Knights struggled on offense. The team took too many quick, ill-advised shots to get back in the game.
"When we move the ball multiple times in our offensive set, we get what we want," said Capers, also a former Globetrotter. "Sometimes, we get too anxious."
Capers, in his first season at Aiken Tech, expected Lemon to lend some advice after the game.
"I'm sure he'll have some words for me," he said.
Aiken Tech has some time to regroup. The Knights are off until Jan. 5.
"A break like this can be good and bad," Capers said. "It could be good, because we'll have a chance to assess ourselves."
Of course, Lemon knows what the Knights should do during the break.
"Just work harder," he said. "If they're going to be good, they're going to have to work harder. Preparation is power."
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.
COASTAL GEORGIA 76,
AIKEN TECH 68
COASTAL GEORGIA (12-2) -Breny Benson 10, Brian Campbell 2, Sean Jackson 2, Chris Lane 3, Mike Lytle 2, Delroy Moore 13, Will Shackleford 33, Carvelle Taylor 9, Thomas Bryant 2. Totals: 27 17-19 76.
AIKEN TECH (3-8)-Kennie Eberhart 12, Corey Johnson 12, Stefan Fryer 7, Jeff McReynolds 8, Desmond Walters 6, Tavaris Little 13, Antonio Holt 3, Gerald Robinson 4. Ricky McGhee 3. Totals 30 3-5 68.
Halftime: Coastal Georgia 37-25. 3-point goals: Coastal Georgia 5 (Taylor 3, Benson, Lane), Aiken Tech 5 (Johnson 2, Fryer, Little, McGhee.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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