Cleveland coach Reggie Tucker showed raw emotion late in the third quarter as sophomore point guard Jasen Brooks crashed to the hoop to make a tough layup despite being fouled.
Tucker leaped into the air and pumped his fist before shouting words of encouragement to Brooks who put on a show in helping the Blue Raiders defeat East Hamilton, 61-57, for the District 5-AAA championship inside Raider Arena Tuesday night.
Brooks was fearless on the court as the first-year starter scored a game-high 26 points in a multitude of ways from running jumpers to outside shots and even a left-handed floater over two defenders. He also added nine rebounds, six assists and a blocked shot.
"The way Jasen played tonight was like he did all summer against elite guys on the Under Armour circuit," Tucker said. "I knew he had this type of takeover ability in him and he played with a lot of confidence. He took good shots, was in a rhythm and ran the floor. My seniors saw that. They saw a young guy in a rhythm and they kept giving it to him."
Cleveland (18-7) has now won four of the past five district tournaments and is driven after having their trip to the Class AAA state tournament last season taken away due to COVID-19.
Regular season district MVP Kley McGowan has helped key another impressive season by averaging more than 18 points per game. McGowan (13 points) drained a trio of 3-pointers over the second and third quarter and also blocked two shots, boxed out well and drew a charge in the victory. He and Grant Hurst, who made seven clutch free throws in the fourth quarter, have been a part of a senior class which has gone 103-17 in their career.
"This team has been doubted, but I always believed in them," Tucker said. "We have lost two key players to injury, played our first eight games on the road due to COVID and had to replace two Division I talents in JaCobi (Wood) and Mo (Schramm). But I knew the character of my kids. They are tough and have been playing with a chip on their shoulder all season. They are winners and are hungry."
East Hamilton (17-4) led 28-27 at halftime as Darwin Randolph showed off his special finishing ability in the second quarter in which he scored nine of his 14 points. Marcus Long (15 points) and Cade Pendleton (16 points) combined for seven dunks, but the Hurricanes did not have an answer defensively for Brooks.
Brooks hit a running floater to begin the fourth quarter as Judah Sault saved the ball from going out of bounds. Sault soon after hit a 3-pointer from the right corner for a 50-43 Blue Raiders lead with under six minutes left.
After taking two valuable minutes off the clock with one possession, Brooks broke past the Hurricanes to help build a nine-point lead with 3:15 left to play that Cleveland would not surrender.
"We had something to prove," Brooks said. "We won as a team tonight. We played hard and did the little things that mattered the most to get this win. I am blessed to be surrounded by great leaders."
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
Sale Creek 58, Arts & Sciences 27: The Lady Panthers won their District 3-A consolation game behind strong play in the post from Kayla Phillips (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Keilyn Morgan (14 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks). Molly Welch added 10 points and seven rebounds in the victory, while CSAS was led by Macie Meyners with 12 points.