Clarksville advances

Blue Tigers rout Big Sandy to reach regional tourney

EMORY, Texas—It would be an understatement to say Clarksville’s defense swarmed Big Sandy’s sophomore sensation Josiah Johnson Tuesday at Rains High School’s Wildcat Gym.

Johnson came into the game averaging 29 points per game, with more than 100 treys to his credit. He couldn’t even get a 3-pointer off the first three quarters, and the Blue Tigers qualified for the Region II-2A tournament in a rout over the Wildcats, 72-43.

Six-foot-8 Clashon Gaffney scored his fifth dunk of the game 25 seconds into the fourth quarter to give Clarksville (286) its biggest lead, 57-21.

That’s when Tiger coach Willie Coulter had his defense back off Johnson, and the blooming 6-1 Wildcat poured in 14 of his game-high 21 points in the final seven minutes of the game. He also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

“Our young guys were knocking down shots tonight,” Coulter said. “We’ve got to take points anyway we can get them. Our outside shooting made a difference tonight. We had a little trouble inside, there was a lot of physical play.”

Gaffney put on a show in the second half, scoring 12 of his 21 points, while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. All of that despite going to the bench during the final minutes of the third and fourth quarters.

Detaveon Lewis contributed 15 points for the Tigers, all outside the arch. Rayzon Allen and 6-7 Quintin Wallace added 12 each.

Big Sandy also got a strong effort from freshman post Joshua Shipman, with 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Tigers won the battle on the glass, 35-26. Both teams had 19 turnovers.

“Overall, our whole team did one heck’uva job defensively,” Coulter said. “In the end I’m so proud of how we’ve responded all year long. When the lights come on, we’ve showed up ready to play this season.”

Johnson played as hard as he could in the first half for the Wildcats, but was almost invisible as Clarksville’s man defense triple-teamed him at half-court and held him to five points in the first two quarters.

Big Sandy (25-6) never led in the game, falling behind 17-7 at the first break.

The Wildcats collapsed on Clarksville’s big guys, leaving Lewis wide open, and he converted four treys without missing.

Gaffney still scored nine points in the opening half, with Wallace contributing six points and four rebounds. The Tigers outrebounded Big Sandy 17-9 in the first half.

Both teams had 10 turnovers in the half, which was three more than the Tigers had Saturday against Martin’s Mill.

The Tigers could play Muenster or Petrolia in Friday’s semifinals. Muenster has eliminated Clarksville the last two years.