COVE -- Episcopal Collegiate's defense turned in a standout performance and its offense was efficient as it move one step closer to repeating as the Class 3A state champion.
The Wildcats shot 61 percent (22 of 36) and forced Flippin into 15 turnovers as it rolled to a 63-36 victory Sunday in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A boys basketball state tournament.
"I've got to admit, we played really well and I was happy about that," Episcopal Coach Micah Marsh said. "We'll take any kind of 'W'. But I told the guys we had to be disciplined on defense, and it turned out to be one of our best defensive efforts of the year."
The Wildcats (25-5) got 21 points each from Mahlon Martin and Kelvin Robinson and eight from Kamron Brassfield to advance to the semifinals, where it will play Valley Springs or Charleston at 5:30 p.m. today.
Charles Smyser and Spencer Politte scored 11 points each for Flippin (34-9), which shot 13 of 29 (45 percent) but was outrebounded 24-10.
Episcopal opened a 17-7 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 29-13 midway through the second on Brassfield's three-pointer with 4:02 remaining, but the Wildcats couldn't completely shake free. Flippin clawed its way back to within 32-21 before Robinson's long jumper at the halftime horn gave Episcopal a 34-21 lead.
"Flippin made me nervous coming in," Marsh said. "They're so well-coached, they've got a good offensive system, and their defensive zone matchup gives people problems. Discipline was the key for us, and we had to stay focused on what we were doing."
The Wildcats turned things up a notch on both ends of the floor in the third quarter and essentially closed the door on the Bobcats' season. A Justin Gooseberry layup ignited a 19-2 run that featured back-to-back three-pointers from Martin, four steals from Allie Freeman and a dunk from Robinson.
By the time Martin made a basket just before the buzzer, Episcopal had turned a 36-25 lead into a 55-27 rout.
Martin's three-pointer at the start of the fourth allowed the game clock to run continuously the rest of the way.
PRESCOTT 74, TWO RIVERS 73, OT
RonDarius Cole's basket along the right baseline with 3.2 seconds left pushed Prescott (27-7) past Two Rivers and into a semifinal matchup against Mayflower at 2 p.m. today.
Cole, who finished with 32 points, had a chance to win it in regulation for Prescott, but his jumper bounced off the back of the rim as time expired. Khaalid Stewart added 25 points for the Curley Wolves.
Garrot Brimmhit seven three-pointers and scored 27 points for Two Rivers (22-9). Morgan Hates added 21 points, and Colby Whitlow had 15.
Sports on 03/09/2015