Perry propels Ridge
LAKELAND — Rob Perry may be the only unsigned senior in Oak Ridge’s starting lineup, but no matter how uncertain his future is, it’s a given that he’ll be remembered by Pioneers boys basketball fans as an all-time great.
The 6-foot-3 senior isn’t the nationally known prospect that teammates Emmitt Williams (LSU) and Antwann Jones (Texas A&M) are. But with Williams disqualified after being assessed two technical fouls and Jones also in foul trouble, Perry scored the last of his game-high 32 points in crunch time to lead Oak Ridge to a 71-60 win over previously unbeaten Wellington in Saturday night’s Class 9A championship game.
“Rob has been doing this all year,” said Ridge coach Steve Reece. “He’s definitely going somewhere. He’ll get a scholarship.”
Perry, who led Oak Ridge (30-4) in scoring for the season, was 11-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-5 on 3-pointers. He also led his team with 8 rebounds and in steals with 4.
National No. 11 Oak Ridge saw most of a 14-point lead slip away as fouls stacked up, but Perry refused to let the Pioneers lose.
Williams sat out much of the game in foul trouble and was done when he picked up a second tech for for hanging onto the rim after dunking with 1:28 to go in the third quarter. Bryan Williams made both technical foul shots to pull the Wolverines (31-1) to within 46-42.
Perry responded. He drove into the lane, spun 360 degrees with his dribble, and flipped a scoop shot that banked in off the glass for a 48-42 lead going into the final quarter.
After junior reserve Kaleb Coleman made a 3-point shot for a 54-47 lead, Perry and the Pioneers sealed the deal by making free throws in the final five minutes. He was 5-of-6 from the line down the stretch.
“My coach said, ‘Keep fighting and bring us home,’ ” Perry said.
Favored Oak Ridge showcased its skills early.
STATE BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK In the fourth minute of the game the Pioneers took a 10-2 lead when Damon Harge passed between his legs on a fastbreak back to Perry, who swished a 3-point shot for a 10-2 lead.
The Pioneers went up 17-6 on a first-quarter score in the lane by Harge and stayed in control even with Williams and Jones sitting out after both picked up two fouls in the opening period. Both sat out the second quarter.
Williams had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in less than 15 minutes of playing time. Jones played just over 9 minutes and was held to 2 points after scoring 30 in Oak Ridge’s Friday semifinal victory over West Orange.
Wellington trimmed its deficit to 30-24 five minutes into the second quarter with Jones and Williams sitting down. Perry muscled into the post for a score, then stepped back out to make a 3-point shot. The next time down he battled for two tip-in tries. The second one fell to push the lead back to 37-25.
Oak Ridge was 0-3 in state finals prior to Saturday’s sweet success.