Warriors fall to Bay in regional semi-finals

By COSMO COSSEY

Poinsett County

Democrat Tribune

EPC (13-12) went 0-10 from the free throw on the night as the Warriors fell to Bay 53-46 in the semi-finals of the 2A North Regional Tournament this past Friday in Monette.

Bay took an early 2-0 lead before Jamarkius Garrett and Dennis Gaines, Jr. hit back to back triple twine to make the score 6-2 EPC. The Yellowjackets hit one of two free throws as Jacob Gaines hit a jumper making the score 8-3 Warriors with 3:33 left. Bay scored off the fast break, Omar McCuiston got inside for a score before the 'Jackets canned a three-ball and scored in the paint to tie the game at 10. Reel hit a runner as Bay scored off the break to make the score 12-12 after one.

EPC opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run as Dennis Gaines hit a three-ball and McCuiston and Hayden Holiman each scored in the paint to make the score 19-12. Bay scored seven straight points to make it 19-19 with 3:06 left in the half. Jacob Gaines hit a jumper in the lane, the Yellowjackets scored back to back baskets as Reel scored down low making it 23-23. Bay again had back to back baskets as Holiman scored inside late to make the score 27-25 'Jackets at halftime.

The Yellowjackets pushed their led to 29-25 before EPC got a basket inside from Reel, a steal and layup from McCuiston and a coast to coast layup from Reel making it 31-29 Warriors. Bay answered with back to back baskets in the paint to make it 33-31 'Jackets with 3:08 left. EPC retook the lead as Jacob Gaines hit a jumper in the lane, Reel hit triple twine making it 36-33 Warriors. Bay scored the last seven points of the quarter to take a 40-36 Yellowjackets after three.

Bay pushed the lead to 42-36 with a jumper early in the final quarter before McCuiston hit a three-ball to make it 42-39 Bay. The Yellowjackets scored inside only to see EPC get a basket in the paint from Holiman and a coast to coast layup from Reel to make it 44-43 Bay with 3:40 left. The 'Jackets scored inside and converted an old-fashioned three-point play to extend their lead to 49-43 before Reel canned a three-ball making it 49-46 Yellowjackets. Bay scored the last four points of the game to win 53-46.

“Going 0-10 from the free throw line really hurt us tonight. I thought our defense played well and we did a good job containing Brannen,” EPC head coach JeMarcus Thaxton said after the game. “We'll just have to get back to work and trust the process as we get for the state tournament,” Thaxton added.

Reel scored 16 points to lead EPC as McCuiston added nine points. Dennis Gaines, Holiman and Jacob Gaines all scored six points each for the Warriors.

EPC opened the tournament with a 75-34 win Palestine-Wheatley as Dennis Gaines and Jacob Gaines scored 19 and 15 points respectively to lead the Warriors. EPC lost to Rector 64-51 in the consolation game.