By Michael Lindsay
They say to throw records out the window for rivalry games.
Tuesday was a perfect example as the Stone Memorial Panthers (9-1) narrowly escaped with a 51-47 victory at Cumberland County (2-7).
“I tried to tell our kids all week that they (Cumberland County) were going to play with a lot of emotion,” said Stone Memorial head coach Neil Capps. “They played really hard and executed their game plan to perfection. We were able to create some turnovers late. We made the plays we had to down the stretch.”
Cumberland County led by as many as 10 points (18-8) early in the game and held a one-point advantage late in the fourth quarter before Stone Memorial ultimately prevailed in the District 7AAA showdown.
“We didn’t play very clean at all,” Capps said. “Defensively, we were not very good. They put us in some long defensive possessions and we started reaching, getting impatient and letting them get downhill.”
Stone Memorial was led in scoring by Matthew Bilbrey and Cade Capps who posted 13 points each. Conner Bowman had 9 points and 4 rebounds.
“Matthew played really well and finished around the rim,” coach Capps said. “Conner Bowman did so much; he played almost the entire game defending their best player. He was rebounding and bringing it up in transition and made some crucial baskets late.”
Cumberland County senior Jaxon Reed posted a game-high 18 points on 7-8 shooting, including a perfect 3-3 from three-point range.
After Stone Memorial opened with an 8-3 advantage, Cumberland County went on a 13-0 run to lead 16-8 after one quarter. Their lead briefly grew to double-digits early in the second period (18-8) before the Panthers cut the CCHS lead down to one point by halftime, 25-24.
Stone Memorial retook the lead early in the third, 28-25, and held a narrow 39-35 advantage going to the fourth quarter.
The Jets wouldn’t go away quietly as a Nolen Carter basket in the paint with 4:58 remaining tied the game at 44.
A Cade Capps transition basket put the Panthers up 46-44 before Cumberland County’s Braeden Woodard nailed a three-pointer with 2:36 remaining to put the Jets ahead, 47-46.
Facing a one-point deficit, Stone Memorial’s Connor Bowman answered on the ensuing possession with a spin move at the rim to put the Panthers up 48-47 with 2:18 to go.
Following a defensive stop, Bowman again scored at the rim with 24 seconds left to go up 50-47. Following a stop and foul with 1.4 seconds left, Cade Capps added the final nail from the free throw line to give Stone Memorial a 51-47 victory.
“Experience is something you get just after you need it, and unfortunately, we just got it,” coach Capps said. “They were really patient offensively, and when we got bored and slipped up, they got good looks and hit them. It was a hard-fought, ugly game for us, but it’s something to learn from.”
Stone Memorial improves to 2-0 in District 7AAA play and will face Apostolic Christian on Saturday at 4 p.m. at SMHS. The game is boys only. Cumberland County drops to 1-1 in district play and will also face ACS at Stone Memorial Friday at 6 p.m.
Stone Memorial (51): Matthew Bilbrey 13, Cade Capps 13, Conner Bowman 9, Preston Mayberry 6, Brady Lane 4, Blake Holt 4, Jayden Eldridge 2
Cumberland County (47): Jaxon Reed 18, Braeden Woodard 14, Ethan Dixon 6, Braden Leviner 5, Nolen Carter 4
