Mayflower rolls
Mayflower (25-3) led from the start and was never seriously threatened in a 61-48 semifinal victory over Lamar (22-8) at Yellowjacket Arena in Clinton. Caleb Moody scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to lead the way for Mayflower.
CLINTON — Mayflower didn’t know it at the time, but a Jan. 8 loss to Lamar was a boon on its way to the Class 3A state championship game.
“Them beating us helped,” Mayflower Coach Brent Stallings said. “It definitely helped. If you beat ‘em twice, you may have a letdown. We didn’t have a letdown.”
Mayflower (25-3) led from the start Monday afternoon and was never seriously threatened in a 61-48 semifinal victory over Lamar at Yellowjacket Arena.
Not that Mayflower, which beat Lamar by 23 points later in the season, needed much extra motivation.
“These guys are hungry,” Stallings said. “They want to finish things off.”
The Eagles trailed 9-6 midway through the first quarter, then outscored Lamar 10-0 over the final 3:48 to lead 16-9.
Mayflower’s lead was 2617 at halftime and 43-27 after three quarters against a Warriors team that got in foul trouble early and never mounted a charge.
Ethan Kendall led Lamar with 23 points, including 4 three-point baskets.
Lamar (22-8) was 7 for 20 in the first half and 15 for 34 overall against Mayflower.
“I knew we were going to have to make shots,” Lamar Coach Brett Samples said.
It didn’t help that Kendall and big man Jerron Massengale sat out a good portion of the first half with foul trouble. Massengale sat out the final 7:01 of the first half after getting foul No. 2, and he fouled out midway through the second half.
“When we get in foul trouble early like that, it puts us behind the 8-ball there,” Samples said. “Hard to get out from underneath.”
Braxtyn McCuien, a 6-6 senior who alternates between point guard and the post, made it tough on Lamar. He finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 assists for Mayflower.
He also had numerous passes that turned into freethrow attempts for his team.
“He’s been that unselfish his whole career,” Stallings said. “He loves his teammates, and he wants them to be successful. He gets as much pleasure from making a good pass as he does scoring himself.”
Count Mayflower sophomore guard Caleb Moody as one who appreciates McCuien. Moody scored 13 of his teamhigh 18 points in the second half when McCuien spent more time play-making than shooting the ball.
Westin Pickell scored eight of his 12 points in the second half, and BJ Gilliam added 10 for the Eagles.
Stallings said Moody emerged as one of the team’s top players in the Eagles’ 67-62 loss at Lamar, and then he led the team Monday.
“He’s the Lamar Warrior killer,” Stallings said.
Moody said he does nothing different against Lamar than he does vs. any other team.
“I just turn up and play hard,” Moody said. “And I get focused, be ready to play. Coach always says be ready to play.”
HARDING ACADEMY 51, MCGEHEE 45
Carter Neal scored 19 points, Ty Dugger had 13 points and 9 rebounds, and Harding Academy overcame an 11-point first-half deficit to defeat McGehee (185) and advance to Friday night’s Class 3A boys championship game against Mayflower.
Harding Academy scored the final 11 points of the first half to draw into a 24-24 tie with McGehee.
McGehee went up by four points twice in the third quarter, the last time at 3733 at the 3:26 mark.
Neal went to work in the fourth quarter, hitting a three-point basket with 5:21 to give Harding Academy a 40-39 lead.
A three-point basket by Caden Sipe gave Harding Academy a 43-39 lead with 4:29 to play, and McGehee could not cut into it.
Demarius Manning (14 points) and David Moore (10) led the Owls in scoring.
Harding Academy, the fourth-place finisher in its conference, won three road games to emerge as the No. 1 seed from Region 2, and has kept its run going here.