CHARLESTON - Now the question of who is No. 1 in Class 3A can be answered.
Episcopal Collegiate and Charleston have been the top two teams in Class 3A all season, and now they will meet in Hot Springs to decide the state title following Charleston’s 67-59 victory over Benton Harmony Grove on Tuesday in the semifinals at the Tiger Center.
“Both of us have been ranked 1-2 all year, so it’s kind of fitting that we can decide it in Hot Springs,” Charleston Coach B.J. Ross said. “Here is the deal: We’re not just happy to go. We’re going to get on the bus, and we’ll have a plan.”
The Tigers (31-5) used a 32-8 run in the second and third quarters to take a commanding 44-27 lead that the Cardinals (25-8) couldn’t overcome.
“We have some good offensive players, but defensively is where we are so good as a team,” Ross said. ‘We’re strong, physical and tough-minded. That was difference tonight. We never let them have second-chance points.
A steal and layup by Anthony McCormick gave the Cardinals a 19-12 lead just seconds into the second quarter, but Charleston took control from there.
A 9-0 run, capped by Matthew Ward’s three-pointer, gave Charleston its first lead of the game, 21-19. The Tigers finished the half with a 9-2 spurt to take the lead for good at 32-25.
Andrew Smith, a 6-7 post, opened the second half with a pair of baskets and suddenly Charleston had it first double-digit lead, 36-26. After a free throw by the Cardinals, Charleston put together an 8-0 run that was capped by Taylor King’s three-pointer and gave the Tigers a 44-27 lead with 3:40 left in the third period.
Benton Harmony Grove made one last push in the fourth quarter with a 12-2 run, capped by a three-pointer by Mitch Scoggins, to get to within 54-48 with 3:23 left, but the Cardinals could not get any closer.
Smith scored 22 points to lead Charleston. Ward added 19 and Ty Storey scored 10.
Drake Wilks scored a game high 29 points to lead Harmony Grove. Scoggins added 10.
EPISCOPAL COLLEGIATE 67, MCGEHEE 55
Four players had at least 10 points as Episcopal Collegiate (28-3) ended the perfect run by McGehee (22-1).
Episcopal took control in the opening period, jumping out to a 22-11 lead and never letting McGehee make a serious push. Episcopal struggled to put the game totally out of reach as it made 23 of 40 free throws, including only 11 of 20 in the final period.
Kelvin Robinson scored 24 points to lead Episcopal. Mahon Martin poured in 15 for the Wildcats, Allie Freeman had 13 and William Pollack added 10.
Keonis Henry led McGehee with 26 points.
Sports, Pages 22 on 03/12/2014