Big fourth quarter leads EPC to Class 2A state title

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

EPC outscored Marshall 21-14 in the fourth quarter to turn a six-point deficit into a 68-61 win to claim the Class 2A state basketball title this past Saturday at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs. The title was the first for the Warriors since 2012.

Omar McCuiston of EPC scores on a nice reverse lay up during the Warriors 68-61 win over Marshall this past Saturday. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

Marshall got on the board first with a basket inside but Dennis Gaines, Jr. converted an old-school three-point play to make it 3-2 Warriors. The Bobcats got a basket down low to go up 4-3 before Gaines, Jr. canned a three-pointer to make the score 6-4 EPC. Marshall drilled a three-pointer only to see the Warriors get triple twine from Gaines, Jr. to make it 9-7 EPC with 4:41 left. The Bobcats hit one-of-two free throws, Gaines, Jr. hit one of three free throws after being fouled shooting a three-pointer before Landon Nichols scored in the paint to put the Warriors up 12-8. Marshall hit a jumper in the lane, Omar McCuiston converted an old-fashioned three-point play only to see the Bobcats hit another jumper in the lane to make the score 15-12 EPC after one quarter of play.

Jacob Gaines scored the first points of second quarter for the Warriors with a two-handed slam dunk and a jumper in the lane to push the EPC lead to 19-12 as the Bobcats scored seven straight points to tie the game at 19. McCuiston canned a three-pointer from the left corner for the Warriors, Marshall hit a jumper as Tyrus Reel scored in the paint for EPC to make it 24-21 Warriors with 4:10 left. The Bobcats took a 25-24 lead with a basket inside and two free throws as Tyrus Reel canned a three-ball to put the Warriors up 27-25. Marshall put back an offensive rebound, McCuiston drilled a three-pointer as the Bobcats threw down a two-handed dunk off an alley oop making it 30-29 EPC. Jacob Gaines hit one of two free throws with less than a minute left to make the halftime score 31-29 Warriors.

The Bobcats scored back-to-back early in the third quarter to go up 33-31 as Nichols tied the game at 33 with a stick back for EPC. Marshall converted an old-fashioned three-point play, McCuiston scored down low, the Bobcats canned a three-ball as EPC got a conventional three-point play from Jacob Gaines to make it 39-38 Marshall with 4:52 left. The Bobcats scored consecutive baskets to push the lead to 43-38 before Gaines, Jr. converted an old-school three-point play to make it 43-41 Marshall. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes as Marshall got a stick back, Jacob Gaines scored inside for the Warriors, the Bobcats hit a jumper as Jacob Gaines answered with a jumper for EPC to make it 47-45 Marshall. The Bobcats scored in the paint, Jacob Gaines scored down low for the Warriors before Marshall scored two straight baskets to take a 53-47 lead after three quarters.

Jacob Gaines of EPC receives the most valuable player award from Lauren Worsham Weeks after the game this past Saturday. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

Doug Reel cut the lead to 53-50 with an old-fashioned three-point play for EPC early in the fourth quarter as Marshall scored back-to-back baskets to make it 57-50 Bobcats. The Warriors reeled off six straight points a Doug Reel and Jacob Gaines both scored in the paint before Jacob Gaines hit two free throws to make it 57-56 Bobcats with 4:03 left. Marshall hit a jumper only to see Jacob Gaines score back-to-back baskets making it 60-59 EPC. McCuiston scored down low as Tyrus Reel hit two free throws and the Bobcats scored inside to make it 64-59 EPC. Marshall scored inside, Tyrus Reel hit three-of-four free throws on back-to-back trips to the line to push the Warriors' lead to 67-61. McCuiston hit one-of-two free throws after an intentional foul to set the final.

“First I want to give all the glory to God because none of this would be possible without Him,” EPC head coach JeMarcus Thaxton said. “I'm extremely proud of my guys for never giving up and continued to fight. They could have given up but they trusted each other and trusted the process to get the win,” Thaxton added. “I think the fourth quarter showed all the hard work they put in, the sprints and push-ups they did. They still had a little left in the tank for the fourth quarter,” Thaxton added. “They made stops and shots in the fourth quarter when they needed them. We try to stay around, weather the storm and kept playing late looking for an opportunity in the fourth quarter,” Thaxton said. “We got the ball to the hot hand today, Dennis early, Tyrus in the middle and Jacob late in the game. Great team effort today,” Thaxton added.

“I'm very satisfied to win this title after coming up short against Bigelow in the football state final. It feels good to bring this title back home,” Gaines, Jr. said.

“This job fell in my lap two years ago. I think we butted heads some last year but I love these guys and it's awesome to take this trophy back home. I think the enormity of tonight's game won't hit us until tomorrow,” Thaxton said.

“We fixed a small flaw on our defense to get things right on that side of the ball and I just kept working on that 2-3 defense they played driving and kicking the ball out when I needed to,” Jacob Gaines said.

Jacob Gaines led the EPC with 22 points as Tyrus Reel and Gaines, Jr. scored 13 each with McCuiston adding 11. Doug Reel tossed in five points with Landon Nichols adding four for EPC.