No fear for EPC in semifinal win
EAST POINSETT COUNTY 75, BIGELOW 66
MANSFIELD — East Poinsett County Coach JeMarcus Thaxton always tells his team to respect everyone but fear no one.
Against defending state champion Bigelow on Saturday, those words of wisdom couldn’t have been more true for the Warriors.
East Poinsett County (2111) broke open a close game with a 12-4 run for a 66-55 lead to begin the fourth quarter en route to a 75-66 victory Saturday at the Class 2A boys state tournament. The Warriors now get a chance to win their first state title since 2012.
“That saying is a big thing growing up for me,” Thaxton said. “I’ve always been taught that. It’s a big saying for this year, too. If you have faith, there is nothing to fear. Our foundation is solid and the guys bought in. Our guys wanted this game late.”
East Poinsett County had five different player score 10 or more points, but it was sophomore Jacob Gaines who led the team with team-highs of 22 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Gaines scored a team-high eight points in the fourth quarters. He had seven of the team’s first 13 points to begin the quarter after taking a 7059 lead.
“He is a great kid off the floor,” Thaxton said. “He works very hard and plays extremely hard. He is very coachable and is a great kid to be around. He might be a sophomore, but he is just another guy on the team that steps up. I always say, if not you then who?”
East Poinsett County also received big games from Tyrus Reel (15 points), Dennis Gaines (14 points), Quincy Perry (14 points) and Omar McCuiston (10 points).
“We have been putting in hard work,” McCuiston said. “We have been doubted since the beginning. We fought. Nobody saw the work we put in, but it came through. We didn’t stop playing in the fourth quarter. We did our job. It’s special to get a chance to make history. I remember the bigger kids going through this growing up, and I wanted to do it, too.”
The game featured eight lead changes. Bigelow held a 22-19 lead after the first quarter and a 41-40 edge at halftime. East Poinsett County then took a 57-53 lead after three quarters.
Bennett Wilson led Bigelow (26-3) with a game-high 25 points and Martell Macon added 10.
MARSHALL 73, CUTTER-MORNING STAR 63
Bryce Griffin finished with a teamhigh 22 points, Jesse Ragland added 21 points and Cole Harness had 17 points as Marshall earned a spot in the state final after finishing as the runner-up last season.
Marshall (29-9) will attempt to win the program’s first state title since 1946.
Cutter-Morning Star (29-7) was led by 26 points from Ahmod Davis and 15 points from Jalen Carter.