BACK IN THE FINAL 4 - Gray Collegiate returns to Class 2A Upper State final after win

Dutch Fork rallies to defeat Fort Dorchester to reach Class 5A Lower State final.

THOMAS GRANT JR.
chroniclesports@yahoo.com
Posted 2/25/20

For the 4th straight year, the Gray Collegiate boys’ basketball team is headed back to the state semifinals.

The top-ranked and defending Class 2A champion War Eagles prevailed over 2nd ranked …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get 50% of all subscriptions for a limited time. Subscribe today.

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

BACK IN THE FINAL 4 - Gray Collegiate returns to Class 2A Upper State final after win

Dutch Fork rallies to defeat Fort Dorchester to reach Class 5A Lower State final.

Posted

For the 4th straight year, the Gray Collegiate boys’ basketball team is headed back to the state semifinals.

The top-ranked and defending Class 2A champion War Eagles prevailed over 2nd ranked Christ Church 60-47 Tuesday at Allen University. The win in the ‘1-versus-2’ matchup was the team’s 13th consecutive playoff win and advanced it to the Upper State final for the 3rd time in 4 years after winning the Lower State last year.

Matching Gray Collegiate with height and confidence from a 19-game winning streak, the Cavaliers took a 5-0 lead to open the game. The War Eagles charged back with an 18-1 run to take control of the contest. 

Senior guard Tauris Watson sparked the charge on both ends. His defensive pressure in the backcourt forced Christ Church turnovers which he turned into points in finishing with a game-high 22.

He also had the play of the night in the 3rd quarter. Driving down the baseline, Watson leaped over defender Charles Sagedy for a powering, left-handed slam dunk to maintain a double-digit lead.

Christ Church (24-2) remained resilient. It outscored Gray Collegiate 20-12 in the 3rd quarter led by junior Jordan Butler, who scored 9 of his 13 points during that stanza to cut the War Eagles’ lead to 39-37.

It was a reversal of fortune in the 4th quarter. The War Eagles scored 7 of the first 9 points, including 2 free throws by Watson following a technical foul on the Christ Church bench and Chase McDuffie connected on consecutive 3-pointers to give Gray Collegiate its biggest lead of the contest. 

The War Eagles outscored the Cavaliers 21-12 in the 4th quarter to pull away for their 13th straight win.

“We told the guys they’re the number 2 team in the state in (Class) 2A and they were going to come out here and try to beat us,” Bethea said. “We had to match their intensity and we had to play through a lot of adversity out there tonight and the guys ended up coming through big time.” 

Awaiting Gray Collegiate at 12:30 pm Saturday at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville is a familiar playoff foe. For the 2nd straight year, the War Eagles will face Andrew Jackson in a rematch of last year’s state final they handily won 79-38.

The winner faces North Charleston or Whale Branch in the Class 2A final at Colonial Life Arena.

Dutch Fork 53, Fort Dorchester 44

Just 3 months ago, Jarvis McClurkin and Dimarco Johnson helped the Silver Foxes blank Fort Dorchester 48-0 in the 3rd round of the Class 5A football playoffs. 

Dutch Fork eventually claimed a 4th consecutive state title.

On Tuesday, the duo contributed to a 2nd half comeback on the hardwood that allowed the Silver Foxes to once again advance to the Lower State finals at the Patriots’ expense.

Trailing in the 2nd half, Dutch Fork rallied and held Fort Dorchester to 7 points in the 4th quarter to earn a 1st ever trip to the state semifinals in basketball.

“We played through adversity, down 8 in the 3rd,” Dutch Fork head coach Brett Jones said. “Our defense was great.  We held them to 7 points in the 4th quarter. We played zone the whole game and we are not a zone team.”

A.J. Knight led the Silver Foxes with 15 points and Jarvis Green added 12. McClurkin finished with 11 points and Johnson dominated the boards with 18 rebounds to go with 8 points.

Up next for Dutch Fork at the Lower State final at 6:30 pm Saturday at the Florence Civic Center is Conway, which edged Goose Creek 41-40. 

A win over the Tigers could potentially set up an All-Wildcat state final involving Lexington High graduates Jones and assistant coach Jason Cochcroft of the Silver Foxes and head coach Thomas Ryan and assistant coach Zach Richardson of defending 3-time Class 5A champion Dorman. 

All four coaches played at Lexington under former head coach Bailey Harris. 

The Cavaliers will face Wade Hampton in the Upper State final.

Bethea, Gray Collegiate

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here