Concord defeated county rival West Side for the third time in as many tries this season, but on Friday night it was even more special for the Pirates as they claimed the 1A-2 South District championship with a 61-48 win over the Eagles.
“To beat that team three times says a lot about our team,” said Concord Coach Keith Cornett. “They are a good basketball team and are so hard to defend so I was proud of my guys. Our guards played better than they have the past few games and that helped open up our post play a little bit.”
The Pirates improved to 29-5 going into the Class 1A, Region 4 Tournament, which begins today in Greers Ferry at 4 p.m. Concord opens Region 4 play with Plainview tonight at 8:30 p.m. while West Side faces Nemo Vista on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
The Eagles took an early lead when Brody Verser drained a 3-pointer from left corner off an assist from Ethan Cartlon but Hunter Cornelison fired back with a trey from right wing before Cartlon used a quick post move for two.
West Side extended its lead to five as Verser sank a free throw and Josh Bittle slashed down the right baseline for a layup but Concord responded with four straight, beginning with a pair of free throws from Derek Burnett.
Following a steal by Burnett, Tim Fuller drove left side and finished with a soaring reverse layup but Verser countered with a 3-pointer from right corner over Burnett before Slade Stormont hit a pair of free throws with one-tenth of a second left in first quarter, leaving West Side with an 11-9 advantage going into the second period.
The Pirates opened the second quarter with four consecutive as Burnett got a stick back and Stormont hit a fade away bank shot from right side but Verser ripped a 3-pointer from right elbow and Cody Barger scored on a breakaway off a defensive rebound and assist from Samuel Story.
With the Eagles leading 16-13, Stormont made a leaner from right block but Ryan Tutor followed his own miss for two and Barger sank a free throw before Fuller drilled a 3-pointer up top.
Bittle hit Tutor with a no-look pass for a basket but Fuller tied the game with a 3-pointer from right wing then Concord took the lead when Fuller lobbed to Chase Thomas for a bucket.
Thomas added a stick back in transition, plus the foul and he completed the 3-point play as the Pirates’ lead grew to five then Thomas made an acrobatic, hanging scoop shot in the lane. Verser answered with a 3-pointer from left wing in the closing seconds of the first half, leaving Concord with a 28-24 lead at intermission.
Story popped a 3-pointer from left elbow as West Side pulled within one early in the third quarter but Thomas made a pair from the stripe before Verser nailed a 3-pointer from right corner, tying the game at 30-all.
But Concord used a 9-0 run to take control as Burnett made a free throw and Thomas scored from right block off an assist from Fuller. With the Pirates leading 33-30, Fuller drilled a 3-pointer from left elbow then another trey from the top of the key before Story made a spin and bank in traffic as Concord took a 39-32 lead to the fourth quarter.
Concord began the final period with a quick 7-0 spurt as Thomas drained a 3-pointer from right corner and then he dished to Burnett for two. Thomas added a tip-in in transition as Concord’s lead grew to 46-32 before Story made two from the line.
Thomas fired back with an amazing floater just inside the free throw line but Adam Hood made two free throws for West Side before Stormont and Bittle traded foul shots, leaving Concord ahead, 49-37.
After Verser sank a midrange jumper from left baseline, Aaron Hegarty drove the lane for a layup but Cartlon notched a tip-in before Hegarty glided through the lane and finished with a finger roll, pushing the Pirates’ lead to 53-41 with 2:10 remaining.
Thomas sank two from the line but Story hit a short jumper in the lane and Verser recorded a pair from the stripe before Thomas bounced to Stormont for a bucket and Fuller hit a free throw, pushing the Pirates’ lead to 58-45.
Story turned an offensive rebound into a free throw and Cartlon got a putback before Fuller made a foul shot. Justin Whitehust made a bucket from right block but Ryan Cornelison closed the game with a stick back, setting the final at 61-48.
Verser led West Side with a game-high 20 points, including five 3-pointers while Story added 10 and Carlton finished with seven. Thomas paced the Pirates with 18 points, Fuller added 16 and Stormont tallied 11 while Burnett finished with seven.
