Warriors survive double-OT thriller against Cedar Ridge

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 2, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Micah Smith never once flashed the "tired" signal Sunday afternoon.

He couldn't afford to spend a few precious seconds on the bench.

Especially when frontcourt mate Malik Richard fouled out with two-plus minutes remaining in regulation. Smith, instead, took control of the game on both ends of the court and helped Eastern Wayne prevail in the postseason for the first time since 2010.

Smith's offensive putback and two free throws -- part of his team-high 30 points -- within a 30-second span helped the Warriors claim an exhausting 93-87, double-overtime conquest of Cedar Ridge in opening-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A basketball playoffs.

The eighth-seeded Warriors (9-15 overall) entertain ninth-seeded Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m. today.

"That was tough," said Smith, who narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

"I had to stay in the game the whole time. I don't think I came out after halftime. But we pulled through for the seniors (and) wanted to teach the juniors how to do things for next year so they can do the same thing. That's all that counts."

Richard ended the night with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Blake Poland knocked down 18 points. Point guard KK Best tallied 15 points and doled out seven assists as the Warriors prevailed on their home court for just the fourth time in 10 tries this season.

Down 50-46 after three quarters, Cedar Ridge (13-12) opened the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run. Point guard Peyton Pappas, who torched the nets for a game-high 37 points, spearheaded the offensive surge that included a technical foul.

Eastern Wayne's Deshaun Bowdy blocked a shot by Pappas and drew a technical foul for taunting. Pappas drained both free throws, Jonathan Hall converted an offensive putback on the technical possession and a subsequent steal by Marquez Hunter pushed Cedar Ridge in front, 57-52.

"They told me they didn't want this to be their last basketball game in the huddle," said EW head coach Chris Roberts, whose team had just 5-plus minutes remaining to stage a comeback.

"I said 'if you don't, you've got to step up right now and be men, and finish this ballgame because they're not going away.' They got in the mindset that it's either do or don't, and we go home."

The Warriors closed to within one point on several possessions before moving in front 66-64 on Richard's traditional three-point play off of an offensive rebound. Smith knotted the contest at 70-70 on a drive to the basket, but the Red Wolves had one last chance.

Pappas, as expected, kept his dribble, penetrated into the lane and lost possession of the ball. The teams traded turnovers, which induced the first OT session.

"I was hoping he was going to take (the shot) a little sooner," CR head coach Clay Jones said of Pappas. "I've let him do his thing all season and that's why he's one of our leaders. I trust him any time, anywhere with the basketball."

Foul trouble plagued the Red Wolves during the two extra four-minute periods. Their three big men -- Hall, Kyle Jones and Isaiah Brown -- all fouled out. The lack of height allowed the Warriors to utilize their athleticism and length, which led to crucial rebounds and second-chance opportunities.

Smith flourished during that stretch and got help from two unexpected sources -- an old-fashioned three-point play from Ethan Molloy in the first OT and a 3-pointer from Jeremiah Miller in the second OT.

"They're long and athletic, and we don't have anybody in our program as athletic as their starting five," Jones said. "Inside we just couldn't match up. It was tough."

Eastern Wayne kept Cedar Ridge in the game with spotty free throw shooting in the second OT. But Smith's two charity shots and Best's layup off of a steal sealed the outcome.

"Micah has started to take over games and how he does it is offensive rebounds because a lot of kids can't keep him off the boards," Roberts said. "He's a very smart kid. And when KK has the ball in his hands, I've got two kids that I've told we're riding y'all and we're going to go as far as y'all take us."