Chesnee outscored the Carolina Trojans 48-39 in the second half and overtime of a crazy basketball game to win the fourth place tiebreaker in Region II-3A and qualify for the playoffs.
"I'm glad we pulled out the win and kept playing hard,” said senior Ahmad Smith. “We never gave up." Both teams came out hot to start the game especially Ahmad Smith for the Eagles who scored five of the Eagles' first seven points. The Trojans closed the quarter on a 10-2 run with Quiozell Bunkley scoring the final five points for Carolina to give them a 21-12 lead after the first quarter. The Trojans were able to maintain their lead in the second quarter in part due to missed free throws from the Eagles as Chesnee went five of eleven from the line. Chesnee was able to cut Carolina's lead to four with just over two minutes to go in the first half after an Ahmad Smith basket but back to back baskets from Carolina’s Da'Marcus Williams to close out the first half gave the Trojans a 39-31 halftime lead. Chesnee's Alijah Means made two of his five three pointers in the second quarter to help keep the Eagles close. Means finished the game with five three pointers after making six each in two out of his last three games. "Coach Pitt has had me in the gym on the gun every morning and night,” said sophomore Alijah Means. “I can't make the shots if I don't work at it. Being in the gym daily has helped me make shots." Dez Tate and Ahmad Smith were the story of the second half as Tate came out with a strong start as he led the Eagles on a 5-1 run to open the third quarter cutting the Trojan's lead to four. Smith and Tate combined to score seventeen of the Eagle's eighteen third quarter points with the biggest basket coming from Smith with twenty seconds left in the quarter to give Chesnee a 49-48 lead. “I came out in the second half with a lot of energy. I knew we had to win to make it to the playoffs,” said senior Dez Tate. “We came out and played team ball and it was a good team win." The teams would continue the exciting play into the fourth quarter as Carolina opened the quarter on an 11-2 run to give them a 59-51 lead with 5:33 left in the contest as Williams scored seven of his team high thirty-one points during the run. The Eagles would use a 12-0 run of their own to grab a 63-59 lead with the last bucket coming on an Alijah Means driving layup with just over four minutes left in the game. A big free throw from Carolina's Williams gave the Trojans a two point lead with twenty seconds left but Chesnee's Alijah Means would calmly sink two free throws with five seconds left to tie the game at seventy and send the game to overtime "I have to make these, I have to make these for the team." Means said when asked what was going through his mind as he stepped to the line in the final seconds of regulation. Seniors Dez Tate and Ahmad Smith once again stepped up in overtime as the duo went a combined seven of eight from the free throw line to help the Eagles pull out a 79-78 win as the duo combined for all nine of Chesnee's points in the overtime period. "It is either win or go home, senior year we had to step up. Malik (Busby) also stepped up by drawing a couple of charges and Chris (Jackson) stepped up talking on the bench." Tate said about how the Chesnee seniors helped lead the Eagles to victory in the overtime period. In the second half when Chesnee needed a big stop senior Malik Busby stepped up and drew a charge call on the Trojans. He was able to draw five charges at pivotal moments of the game. "He takes so many he has to be careful and make sure it a no doubter late in the game, said Coach Pitt about Busby’s contributions. “He helped us get some big stops." Tate lead the way for the Eagles as he scored a team high thirty-four points with twenty-seven of those coming in the second half. "Dez had some opportunities in the first half he didn't take advantage of, but he found a way in the second half. That is what good senior leaders do." Coach Pitt said. Chesnee will travel to Newberry to open the 3A playoffs on Tuesday.
Chad Tate
2/8/2019 08:53:01 am
Great Win last night Chesnee Eagles. Comments are closed.
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