Wildcats survive upset bid
PEARCY – Daniel Gafford did more sitting than playing. Czar Perry did not hit a 3-pointer. And, El Dorado still found a way to win.
The Wildcats gutted out a 56-53 victory over Marion Thursday in the 6A State Tournament at Lake Hamilton High School. El Dorado advanced to Saturday’s semifinal round and improved to 27-4 on the season.
Gafford, who finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks, was whistled for four fouls in the game. One appeared to be legitimate.
He went to the bench with his third at the 6:37 mark of the second and didn’t return until about six minutes left in the third. Seconds later, he was charged with his fourth and went to the bench with 6:01 left in the quarter.
“When we talked to Daniel at halftime. We said, ‘ Son, we’re going to sit you at the half because you’re 6-11. They haven’t seen you before. Their eyes are drawn to you.’ When he picked up his fourth one, I brought him back out and I told him, I’m not putting you back in until I have to have you,” said El Dorado coach Gary Simmons. “He was fine with that because Daniel is not selfish. Daniel wants to win a state championship.
“If it takes him sitting over there until it’s time for him to grab a rebound or grab a steal, then that’s what he does.”
Perry hit a free throw to
give El Dorado a 54-53 lead with 1:01 left to play. Marion got the ball to Shaun Doss, who tried to drive past Perry. Perry appeared to deflect the ball and Gafford went down to the floor to recover the loose ball with 10 seconds left.
The Wildcats called a timeout and got the ball to Perry. He hit one free throw with 8.5 left on the clock, leaving the door open for a Patriots’ miracle. Doss pulled up from about five feet behind the 3-point line on the right wing. The shot was on-line but long. Unice got the miss and hit one free throw with 0.9 left to play. Marion did not get off another attempt. With the team struggling, Perry asserted himself offensively. Especially in the second half, the senior guard put his down and drove to the basket time-after-time. Perry finished with a team-high 24 points and none of them were easy.
Simmons was asked about Perry’s decision to drive instead of shoot from the perimeter.
“When I told him there were no more jump shots allowed in that game,” the coach answered. “We were going to the rim. And, he’s capable of doing that. Czar can do whatever he wants to do. He really can.
“Our role players did a good job doing what they do. They rebounded, played good defense. Czar and Ryu, with Daniel on the bench, put the team on their shoulders and did a great job.”
Ryu Unice scored 10 points for El Dorado, hitting the team’s only 3-pointer on the opening possession.
El Dorado leaped to a 12-2 lead midway in the first quarter. But, the Patriots slowly got into the game as the Wildcats became bogged down by fouls. Marion hit six free throws and closed to 16-10 before Unice drained a 3-pointer to end the first quarter.
Gafford went to the bench with his third foul at the 6:37 mark of the second quarter. Marion attacked the basket and closed the gap to 21-20 on a drive by Keyshawn Woods with 3:45 left in the half.
The Wildcats retaliated with a 10-0 run. Alex Boone, who played big off the bench, got an offensive board and converted a three-point play. Perry delivered a nifty no-look pass to Brendan Johnson for a layup, then scored in the lane. Perry hit a free throw before his dunk gave the Wildcats a 31-20 lead at the intermission.
El Dorado was up 33-24 after Gafford’s dunk with 6:13 left in the third. But, the 6-10 senior was whistled for his fourth on the ensuing possession. The Patriots responded with an 11-3 spurt to cut the deficit to 36-33.
El Dorado led 40-35 going into the fourth but Marion’s Martinez Harper drained a 3-pointer. The Patriots finally grabbed the lead with a 6-0 spurt, capped by Harper’s free throw for a 45-44 advantage with 4:58 left in the game.
Perry answered with a drive to the basket. He followed with two free throws. Marion cut the lead to two before Gafford came back in with three minutes remaining. The Patriots tied the game twice, at 49-49 and 51-51. Gafford hit two at the line to give El Dorado a 53-51 lead with 2:05 remaining. Doss tied the game with two free throws with 1:12 left, setting up the exciting finish.