LYNN–Something had to give Friday in the quarterfinals of the Class 1A State Tournament at Hillcrest High School. Concord and Bay, both purple and gold teams, entered Friday’s elimination game with identical records of 32-6.
Concord eased past Fayetteville Christian 59-47 in the first round on Thursday and was within two of Bay at halftime Friday, but the Yellowjackets outscored the Pirates 16-7 in the third quarter on their way to a 64-44 victory and trip to the state semifinals.
The Pirates can hold their heads high, knowing they finished among the final eight of 66 Class 1A schools in the state. They also racked up the 1A-2 South District title and 1A-2 South Conference crown along the way.
Concord Coach Keith Cornett said he was proud of his team for hustling all season. “I thought we played really hard all year long. We finished with losses to the last two teams in the state so that’s not too bad. We had a good season.”
Bay ousted Guy-Perkins 58-54 on Saturday, earning a trip to the state finals in Hot Springs, where they will face Wonderview.
Concord lost to Wonderview 58-52 in the Region 4 finals in Greers Ferry, giving Cornett a good perspective on this week’s final game, which is set for Friday at 3:30 p.m. Cornett said Bay’s guard play hurt them, but expects Wonderview will be better equipped to matchup with the Yellowjackets.
“Bay is a good team. They pressure guards real hard and can shoot, especially the one guard [Devin Griffin] that hit four three’s in first half. I thought their guard play and depth was the key to the game. Wonderview has a guard that is hard to pressure so they may be able to handle it better. It will be exciting to watch.”
Bay snatched the game’s first lead when Griffin canned a 3-pointer from left wing but Concord fired back with a 9-0 spurt as Chase Thomas drove the left side a hit a pull up jumper then Tim Fuller swiped a steal and finished with a layup.
Thomas added a free throw then Fuller batted a loose ball to Derek Burnett for a layup before Fuller made a pull up jumper in transition. Griffin broke the run with a spin and scoop and Troy Brown added two free throws but Slade Stormont scored underneath off an assist from Logan King, giving the Pirates an 11-7 advantage.
The Yellowjackets responded with six straight as Brown scored from left block then he got a putback before Blake Hogan scored in the paint, pushing Bay in front by two. In the closing seconds of the first quarter, Stormont used a spin move to get past two defenders on the left baseline for a finger roll, leaving the game tied 13-all going into the second quarter.
Bay reclaimed the lead early in the second when Griffin snagged a steal and hit Damien Holt for a breakaway layup but Fuller countered with a 3-pointer from right corner before Griffin answered with a trey from right wing.
Concord jumped back in front on Thomas’ turnaround jumper from right elbow then Fuller snared a long defensive rebound near the sideline and drove the left side for a layup.
Griffin drained a 3-pointer from left corner that knotted the game at 21-up but Thomas retaliated with a fade away jumper from left elbow, plus the foul. Thomas completed the 3-point play but Zachary Carmer got a stick back before Burnett made a foul shot, giving Concord its final lead at 25-24.
Bay scored seven quick points as Brown scored deep in the paint then Griffin drilled a 3-pointer up top and Holt sank a tough leaner from right baseline before Thomas came up with a steal and weaved through the entire Bay defense for a short bank shot.
In the closing seconds of the second period, Thomas drove the left side and hit a leaner over two defenders, pulling the Pirates within two (30-28) at halftime.
The Yellowjackets began the third quarter with five straight as Griffin sliced down left baseline for a layup and Ryan Ragan popped a 3-pointer from left wing before Thomas came up with a steal that led to a driving bucket from Burnett.
With Concord trailing 35-30, Gunner Freeman gave Bay a spark with a free throw followed by a pull up jumper but Thomas made a pair from the stripe and King ripped a 3-pointer from right elbow, pulling the Pirates within three.
Freeman fired back with fast break layup then he dropped a hanger from right side of lane before Holt turned a steal into a free throw. Holt added a deep 3-pointer from right wing as Bay pushed its lead to 46-35 going into the final eight minutes of play.
Bay put the game out of reach with a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter. Carmer got the Yellowjackets going with an old-fashioned 3-point play then Freeman made 3-of-4 foul shots and Carmer added another. Freeman followed with a jump stop and leaner before Concord broke its drought when Thomas found Burnett on left block for two.
Carmer made a free throw and Freeman used a jump stop to get open for a jumper from right elbow but Thomas responded with a spectacular reverse scoop shot, leaving the Pirates with a 58-37 deficit.
Thomas glided through the lane and finished with a finger roll but with under two minutes remaining, it was evident a tremendous season was coming to an end. In the final two minutes, Freeman made a free throw and Cody Sharp added two more for Bay before Concord’s Casey Turney drilled a 3-pointer from left corner. Bay’s Shawn Walker fired back with a 3-pointer from right wing, setting the final at 64-44.
Griffin led Bay (34-6) with 16 points and Freeman followed with 15, all of which came in the second half. Brown and Holt each added eight for the Yellowjackets and Carmer pulled down a game-high seven rebounds. Thomas led Concord (32-7) with a game-high 18 points, Fuller added nine and Burnett tallied seven.
Lynn, Ark. —
