The Clay County Bulldogs earned the Region 4/A tournament championship in a 63-43 win over East Robertson on Thursday night in Cross Plains.
The Bulldogs used a 32-point performance by Mr. Basketball finalist Grant Strong and a strong second half to roll to their second-straight region title.
“From the tip, we were focused,” said CCHS head coach Rob Edwards. “We were zoned in. Our intensity level was good from the beginning and we guarded the heck out of them.”
Jeff Spivey tied the game at five early in the first quarter in front of a thunderous crowd with a step-back three. He added another basket later in the frame as the Bulldogs took a 13-10 lead after the first quarter. Starting point guard Jimmy Burchett left the game in the frame with an apparent injury, and did not return.
Strong dove on the floor after a loose ball to extend a possession midway through the frame, Spivey then made another three to give CCHS a 24-16 lead. ERHS then got two timely baskets in the final two minutes of the frame as the Bulldogs took a 26-21 lead into halftime.
Strong then began to heat up from the field in the third quarter, hitting two straight threes to stretch the Bulldog lead to 34-24.
Moments later, ERHS was assessed two technical fouls. Strong went 4-4 from the line to give the Bulldogs a 40-27 lead.
The Indians cut the deficit to nine early in the fourth quarter, but CCHS rallied after a timeout by Edwards. Spivey made another three with 5:10 remaining to stretch the lead to 53-37 as the Bulldogs cruised to the region championship.
Edwards said the experience of the reigning state champions played a big role in their ability to remain calm in a hostile environment.
“We’ve been there, we’ve done that,” said Edwards. “It’s going to get loud… we just take their best shot and keep on going. They made a little run and we went to the bench and just calmed down. These guys are seasoned. It makes my job a lot easier.”
Strong’s 32 points included going 12-12 at the free throw line. Spivey scored 15 points. Keaton Arms added 13 points.
Edwards said the CCHS role-players had great performances, particularly with the absence of Burchett.
“It was really big Bryce Bailey to come off the bench and play all those minutes,” said Edwards. “For Eli (Smith) to go run the point guard… it was big for those guys to step up and fill in for Jimmy.”
The Bulldogs will turn their attention towards a home substate matchup against Chattanooga Prep (10-4). The Sentinels were defeated 75-59 by Van Buren County in the Region 3/A championship game.
Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Sentinels is set for 7 p.m. Monday night. The game will be livestreamed on the UCR Facebook page.
