Michael Bowens returned. So did the made baskets. That brought the signature full-court pressure.
Surviving cold shooting in the first half, South Central advanced with a 52-45 win over Jacksonville on Thursday evening in the Big Carolina Conference high school boys’ basketball tournament semifinals. Second-seeded New Bern, a 61-46 winner over J.H. Rose, are the finals foe tonight.
“He’s a senior, one of our leaders,” first-year Falcons head coach Leland Jones said. “Game like that, you want to count on your senior guys that have been working hard for four years.”
Top-seeded South Central roared in the girls semifinal opener, winning 53-14 over fifth-seeded Rose and earning a date opposite Jacksonville in their final. The second-seeded Cardinals romped past sixth-seeded New Bern 69-31.
Tonight's championship evening have the girls tip at 6, boys at 7:30.
“He hit a big 3 for us,” Jones said of Bowens’ spark in the second half. “We were on the ropes. That gave us some life.”
No. 1 seed South Central (19-3) trailed quarterly by 11, one and seven, rushing ahead for good with the first dozen points in the final period. The Falcons’ defense dominated the final five minutes, yielding just two field goals — one on a careless inbound under the Cards’ basket, the other a long 3 on an extended possession with time running out.
“We came out of that timeout and I told them, ‘Play our brand of basketball like we’ve been playing all year,’” Jones said. “And they went out, were flying around the ball, we were talking more, communicating and trusting each other.”
In the final 4:11, senior Ean Behm made his last three shots from the floor. In the last 54 seconds, the Falcons made all six foul shots — four by sophomore Tobia Moye, two by Behm.
The rookie head coach said the difference, however, was defense, and on that end was a pivotal glass-cleaning and a block forcing a jump ball by junior Da’vius Johnson; and junior Isaiah Godley drawing an offensive foul on senior Michael Carlock’s forearm shiver as he drove from the left elbow.
“We continued to fight the whole game, even when our offense was struggling a little bit,” Jones said. “I’m proud of those guys for their effort. That’s how we try to play all year, on the defensive end tough.”
At times frenetic, others glassy smooth, the first half played to the pulse of a season series — two previous decisions split by nine points total. Jacksonville led 22-21 at intermission, having lost most of a 14-point lead built by storming in front 10-1 in the first three and a half minutes.
“It’s a make-or-miss game,” Jones said. “I always tell them, even if the shot is not falling, your defense has got to always be good, ready and available.
“We had to see the ball go in. Once we saw the ball go in, we were able to move it. Guys got a little bit more confidence.”
Behm scored 13 points and Loftin 12 to lead the hosts. Head coach Sean Thompson’s fourth-seeded Cardinals (17-9) were led by senior Andrew Humphrey with 11 points. Juniors Tafari Martin and Ra-Shawn Echols, who fouled out, each scored eight.
“Jacksonville is very athletic,” Jones said. “They’re better than their record. They’re very well coached — got a lot of respect for that guy over there. Bunch of athletes and they don’t quit.”
Echols, 6-foot-3 and long, threatened from the perimeter offensively and was closest to the rim in defensive sets. His touch and that of junior reserve Deondrea Gill meshed with Humphrey’s passing to push the Cardinals ahead by 14 in the first half. Carlock was a leaper inside and senior Amaree Barber silky operating the wing.
“He’s a great athlete,” Jones said of Echols. “We’re familiar with him, seen him a lot, and he gets better every time he plays.”
South Central owns triumphs of 11 and 15 over New Bern (17-9). Two championships are already in tow — the league regular season, and the Parker’s Barbecue Invitational.
“Scrappy. Both of us play similar styles of basketball,” Jones said of the Bears. “They’re very tough, but we’re a tough team too.”
Girls’ game
South Central 69, J.H. Rose 31
In the girls’ game, freshman Gabrielle Freeman and sophomore Brook Evans scored 13 points each to lead the Big Carolina regular-season queens past Rose. Sophomore Niyani Mayo added eight points for the victors.
Leads at the period horns for South Central (23-2) were 18, 29 and 34.
The Falcons, 12 consecutive wins accomplished, thrice defeated Pitt County rival Rose by a combined 120 points (34, 47, 39). Title game foe Jacksonville (20-4) has been vanquished by 28 and 33.
Rose (6-16), winner at Havelock in the quarterfinals, was led by senior Tamyah Rhodes with six points. Junior Cameron Daise and sophomore Na’kiya Carmichael also hit floor shots.
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