Jags suffer overtime loss in semifinals
Spain Park stormed back in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but fell just short in a 63-61 loss to Central-Phenix City in the Class 7A Boys State Semifinals on Thursday in the BJCC’s Legacy Arena.
“There is no question we played a really fine ball club today,” said Central-Phenix City head coach Bobby Wright. “There were several times I thought we could’ve folded up our tents, but we just fought too hard. These guys have been fighting all season.”
Keiondre Jakes picked up a steal and a layup to give Central-Phenix City (31-1) the lead with 58 seconds to play. The Red Devils held on, as Spain Park’s Austin Wiley had a look at the rim in the closing seconds, but was blocked away by Tionne Williams.
“I noticed he was hurt, but I know he likes to put his shoulder into you. I waited for him to do it, but he faded back,” Williams said of the final play. He finished the night nine points, eight rebounds, and five blocks.
Wiley injured his ankle in the second half as he attempted to block a shot and came down on another player’s foot.
When asked his thoughts on the conclusion of the contest, Wiley said, “I’m not going to complain and say that I think I got fouled, but I just have to play through it and I should’ve made it.”
The fact that the game made it to overtime is a testament to the resilience shown by Spain Park in the second half. Central-Phenix City took off with a ten-point lead early in the fourth quarter, as Jamal Johnson was on the bench with four fouls.
Johnson returned to the floor, and helped the Jags erase that deficit in just over two minutes. The run happened right after an 11-0 burst from Central. After the run, Johnson picked up a steal and a layup, followed by a three on the next possession to pull the Jags within three points.
The Jags’ 16-2 run gave them a four-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
“Coach wanted us to press and I knew we had to get some easy steals to get us back in the game. I tried to hustle and leave it on the floor and make some opportunities for my teammates,” Johnson said.
Johnson picked up his fourth foul with 2:52 left in the third quarter, but returned in the final minute of the period, as head coach Donnie Quinn put the team in his hands.
“Jamal runs our team,” Quinn said. “If I can’t be out there playing myself, then I’ve got to have somebody out there who is in charge. That’s what he does.”
The decision to put him back in was not a difficult one, as Johnson led the team with 20 points to go along with nine boards and four steals.
“If you don’t leave him out there, you may not be close in the game. It’s a matter of making that decision, holding him out as long as I can but then knowing that we got to get him in there and trusting him not to pick one up,” Quinn said.
The junior point guard played with that fourth foul until picking up a charging foul driving to the basket late in the overtime period, a move Quinn was fine with.
“I don’t mind them picking up fouls when they’re trying to score,” Quinn said.
Wiley and Justin Brown each eclipsed a double-double for the game. Wiley picked up 19 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks, while Brown scored 15 and grabbed ten boards.
Spain Park increased its lead to 52-46 in the fourth quarter, but Central simply would not go away. Jermond Williams hit a three-pointer and converted an and-one to draw his team back even. Williams had ten points in the contest.
Demarcus Lampley nailed a three at the end of the third quarter to give the Red Devils a 42-34 lead. Lampley and Tre’ Todd led the team with 14 points apiece.
Central started out the game with a 12-4 lead, but the Jags closed the gap to 14-11 at the end of the first period.
Spain Park will say goodbye to three seniors in Brown, Jameson Floyd, and Bailey Defalco.
The season ends at 23-10 for Spain Park, but Quinn said he would go back and remind his team of all its accomplishments to avoid looking at the season as a disappointment. He summed the final game up perfectly.
“Both teams laid it out there, and they made one more (play).”