EPC upsets Rebels to win 2A Region title

By STEVE KNOX

Sports Connection

RIVERSIDE - The East Poinsett County Warriors held Riverside to only two points over the final 3:12 of the game to claim a 54-49 victory and the 2A - North Regional championship Saturday at Riverside. In what was a tight game for the final two and a half quarters, the Warriors would ride some timely free throw shooting and smothering defensive effort to gain the victory.

EPCs Jacob Gaines scores two of his game-high 18 points while defended by Riverside’s Cash Gillis

With the game tied at 47 and 3:12 to play, EPCs Dennis Gaines would be fouled by Riverside’s Harrison McAnally as he tried to score on a rebound. McAnally protested the call and drew a technical foul.

Gaines would hit the second of two free throws to give his team a 48-47 advantage. EPCs Tyrus Reel then stepped to the line and converted both of the technical foul shots to make it a 50-47 game.

After a missed shot by the Rebels, EPCs Quincy Perry was fouled with 2:52 to play. Perry dropped both shots and the Warriors had their largest lead of the game at 52-47. Riverside would draw within three points with 1:04 to play scoring inside to make it 52-49. Trailing by three, Riverside, which had committed only three fouls to that point couldn’t get the ball away from the Warriors. In a wild sequence in the final 25 seconds, EPC would miss a shot, the ball would be knocked around by several players on both squads before the Warriors regained possession. Riverside would desperately try to foul

to send EPC to the fine, but were not able to do so until four seconds remained on the clock sending EPCs Jacob Gaines to the free throw line. Gaines would calmly drop both shots to set the final score of 54-49. Four seconds later the Warriors were the region champions.

“Very proud of the kids. They stayed together, stayed in tune with one another. That is the only way you can overcome adversity,” said Warriors second year head coach Jamarcus Thaxton

The Rebels came out firing and played some tough defense, holding the Warriors scoreless for the first 4:04 and building a 9-0 lead as Thatcher Durham and Brayeson Timms would hit triple twine and Cash Gillis would convert and old fashioned three point play. EPC would get on the scoreboard with a three-point play by Jacob Gaines to make it 9-3. Riverside would score the next five points as Timms would drive for a layup and hit the and 1 free throw to make it 12-3. Tucker Emery would score inside and the Rebels lead was 11 points (14-3).

EPC would close the game two points with a 9-0 run as Doug Reel hit one of two free throws, Jacob Gaines converted another three-point play. Omar McCustion scored in the lane and Dennis Gaines buried a corner three to make it 14-12. Riverside’s Gillis would score the final points of the quarter and the Rebels held a 16-12 lead after one period.

Riverside would control the early part of the second quarter as they built a 22-14 advantage as Durham sandwiched back to back triple twines around a McCuiston score inside. However Riverside head coach Buster Campbell would pick up a technical foul with his team up eight points. EPCs Tyrus Reel would hit one of the two technical shots and Jacob Gaines would score to make it 22-17. McCuiston would hit a triple to make it 22-20 Rebels. Riverside’s Durham would hit a paid of free throws to make it 24-20. Jacob Gaines hit back to back shots sandwiched around a Timms jumper to make it 26-24 Rebels. EPCs Tyrus Reel then hit a shot to square the game at 26 apiece.

But Riverside would close the half with a three-point play by Timms and a buzzer beating layup by Durham to give Riverside a 31-26 halftime lead.

The second half saw both teams turn up their defensive pressure as EPC held the Rebels scoreless for the first 4:30 of the third quarter, meanwhile EPC would tie the game with a Jacob Gaines bucket, a McCuiston free throw and Tyrus Reel’s jumper making it 31 all. Following a Rebel bucket, Dennis Gaines would give his team its first lead of the game with a triple twine to make it 34-33 EPC with 2:57 to play in the third. Riverside’s Durham would hit a jumper to make it 35-34 Rebels, only to see Dennis Gaines give his team the lead back with a jumper to make it 36-35 EPC. A Durham triple twine would give the Rebels the lead back at 38-36. EPC would tie the game at 38 apiece before the Rebels Bryce Smith would score a bucket to give the Rebels a 40-38 lead heading to the final period.

Durham would give the Rebels a 42-38 lead with an early bucket in the final period. A pair of Jacob Gaines free throws made it 42-40 Rebels. An Emery three-pointer made it 45-40, and EPCs Tyrus Reel hit from behind the arc to make it 45-43. Riverside’s Daniel Couch then hit a pair of free throws to give Riverside a 47-43 lead. Back to back buckets by EPCs Perry would tie the game to set up the dramatic final minutes.

“You start slow sometimes. It takes time to get on the same page. But our kids trusted one another. They trust that they are going to make a shot, they trust that they are going to get help on defense. They trust each other totally and have become a true family. Teams that trust one another can do great things,” said Thaxton.

The Rebels (24-7) were led by Timms who scored 13 points. Durham and Emery both scored 11 points. Gillis added seven points, while Smith and Couch both scored two points. Riverside the second seed from the North will face the Marshall Bobcats (26-9), the third seed from the Central, Thursday, Feb. 29 at 2:30 p.m. The 2A State Tournament is being competed at Mansfield High School.

EPC (18-11) was paced by Jacob Gaines 18 points. Tyrus Reel added 10 points, while Dennis Gaines scored nine points, McCuiston added eight points, Perry had six points and Doug Reel had three points. EPC the first seed from the North faced Sloan-Hendrix (30-11) the fourth seed from the Central Tuesday.