Staying alive
Coosa, Darlington and Model advance in the Region 7-AA basketball tournament.
SUMMERVILLE — Nothing puts determination in a team like the chance to qualify for the state playoffs.
Coosa, Darlington and Model each qualified for state Thursday when each team won its firstround game of the Region 7- AA Tournament at Chattooga High School.
Each team’s performance brought with it a different result, but all of them brought the relief of extending their seasons.
The most drama came in the first game of the evening as Coosa’s Xavier Bailey made a layup while getting fouled with 0.7 seconds left to lift the Eagles to a 70-69 win over Gordon Lee.
“We gave it everything we had and they gave it everything they had,” Coosa coach John McFather said. “We just happened to make one extra play, and that clinched state for us.”
In the other games, the Darlington Tigers rolled past Armuchee 71- 51 to win their ninth straight game, and Model made a late run to squeak out a 5549 win over Dade County.
No. 1 seed Chattooga, which had a bye to the semifinals, will play Coosa at 5: 30 p. m. today at Model High School. Darlington will then take on Model at 8:30.
Here is a closer look at Thursday’s Region 7- AA tournament games:
Coosa boys 70, Gordon Lee 69
The Eagles advanced thanks to hot shooting and Bailey’s late-game heroics. Bailey finished with 15 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, while senior guard Stephvon Faust scored 22 points, including six 3-pointers.
It was a valiant effort and heartbreaking result for the Trojans, who found success much of the game breaking Coosa’s press. Seniors Brandon Lewis and Hank Norton scored 23 and 15 points, respectively.
The first quarter was an explosion of points, including five 3- pointers from Coosa ( 12- 13). The Eagles finished with 13 3-pointers and have made 27 combined in their last two games.
The Trojans ( 13- 13) played much better defense in the second quarter, holding Coosa to only 10 points while still finding holes in the press. They led 36-31 at halftime, and the offense kept rolling in the third as it took a 54-44 lead into the final frame.
McFather said he made a defensive adjustment to start the fourth, and it helped Coosa take the lead back with five minutes left.
A Coosa turnover and foul put the Trojans on the line with 3.7 seconds left, seemingly giving the Trojans the win. But McFather gave clear advice if a free throw was missed.
“I told them get the ball to Xay,” McFather said. “Get the ball to Xay and I told Xay, ‘You can get to the hole.’ We’ve seen him do it. It is a lot to expect but he is so fast.”
The first free throw missed, and Bailey got the ball, raced down the court and drew a foul just inside the arc before taking two steps to make a layup. The officials debated for a few minutes before determining the basket counted, setting off a wild Coosa celebration.