MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The memory of last year’s state-tournament second-half collapse weighed heavily on the minds of Howard’s basketball team Thursday. It was tough not to think back to the disappointment as the Hustlin’ Tigers began the third quarter in a similar scenario.
Holding a slim five-point lead, Howard opened the third quarter with a 12-0 run, then erased the bad memory completely with some keen free-throw shooting late for a 75-65 win over Bolivar Central in the Class AA quarterfinals.
“We all thought about it at halftime,” said Howard senior Brandon Allen, who scored 10 of his 18 points in the second half. “We remembered how frustrating it was to be up at halftime and feel confident and then give up the lead in the third and never get it back.”
The fifth-ranked Hustlin’ Tigers (31-2) will play Memphis Mitchell, the team that rallied to beat them last season, in today’s semifinals at 6:15 p.m. EDT. Mitchell (24-8) defeated third-ranked Austin-East by two points Thursday.
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Staff Photo by Angela Lewis-- Howard's Dominique Taylor shoots against Bolivar Central at Middle Tennessee State University's Murphy Center on Thursday.
Except for a one-minute stretch in the second quarter, Howard led the whole game, pulling in front by 18 late in the third period.
Fourth-ranked Bolivar, which had won two state titles in the last five years, rallied within six on consecutive 3-pointers, the second by Chris Reaves with 1:27 remaining.
But Howard, which made 12 of 16 free throws in the fourth quarter, hit six straight at the line in the final 50 seconds to seal the program’s first state-tournament win since 1993. For the game, Howard made six more free throws (27) than Bolivar attempted.
“Bolivar is a good team and I knew they would make a run at us,” Howard coach Walter McGary said. “But we answered it and showed a lot of poise late. Making those free throws was huge.”
With Howard ahead by 15 midway through the third quarter, team captain Darius Ricks took a pass near midcourt and collided with Bolivar’s Reaves. The impact knocked Reaves’ two front teeth out and left Ricks lying on the floor with a gash over his right eye.
Ricks, who had scored 12 points, did not return. He needed one stitch to close the cut but is expected to play in the semifinal game.
“When Darius came to the bench, he moved his hand from his head and there was blood pouring down his face,” McGary said. “It was scary looking.
“I called the kids together and reminded them we had faced adversity before, and it was time to step up together. I think that experience made us a better team. We had several other kids step up without Darius in there. Normally he’s one of the main ones our kids look to to carry us.”
Four of Howard’s starters scored in double figures, led by Dominique Taylor’s 25 points and 14 rebounds. Dominique Harper added 11 points and 12 rebounds as Howard outrebounded Bolivar by 13.
E-mail Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com
HOWARD 75, BOLIVAR CENTRAL 65
Bolivar 13 12 13 27 — 65
Howard 16 14 23 22 — 75
Bolivar Central (65) — Jeremy Rhodes 10, Griffin, Murphy 4, Monterio Crisp 12, Reaves 9, Jonathan Hodge 11, Ross 1, Tisdale 7, Kegan Fuller 11, D. Crisp.
Howard (75) — Brandon Allen 18, Darius Ricks 12, Dominique Taylor 25, Ross, Dominique Harper 11, Reynolds 3, Jones 4, Deloney 2.
3-point goals: Bolivar 7 (Hodge 3, Reaves 2, Crisp, Fuller); Howard none. Records: Howard 31-2; Bolivar 28-5.
Stephen has covered high school sports in the tri-state area since the early 1990s, starting at the News-Free Press as a 19-year-old reporter. He has been with the Times Free Press since its inception and has been an assistant sports editor for more than seven years. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP’s newsroom, winning numerous state and regional awards for his writing on high school athletics. He has two children, Riley ...
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