BOYS' BASKETBALL: Jones gets 100th career win, SC escapes Perquimans

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on February 24, 2017 9:57 AM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- The platoon gospel of Taylor Jones plays on.

Spring Creek, long on the versatile, Swiss-blade lineup creations of its head coach, leaned on something else -- its collective conviction -- to survive talent-laden Perquimans, 81-79, in second-round play of the N.C. High School Athletic Association boys' basketball playoffs Thursday evening at "The Swamp."

Now 22-6 this season, SC travels to face Southeast Halifax on Saturday in the tournament's third round -- the school's first reservation on such a stage since 2006.

And it wouldn't have happened if not for trust.

The affair began in respirator mode, with both teams seeking advantage in a transition-rich first quarter. In total, 12 different players on both teams registered baskets -- good enough for a raucous start and the praise of SC's Jones.

"They (Perquimans) are really good," the coach said. "And in the second, we took a punch and came together -- made a run."

Indeed they did.

Perquimans (19-8 overall) opened the stanza with an uber-quick 12-1 outburst that both stunned the hosts and promptly quieted a mass of Gator enthusiasts. SC absorbed the blow, however, responding with some tidy work of its own in the half court to force a 42-42 deadlock at the break.

The second half offered more of same.

Battling foul trouble and the weight of their season, the Gators embarked on a drive-and-kick mission to start the third. On seemingly every possession, SC worked hard to create open looks for shooters and critical, extra opportunities on the glass.

Like clockwork, the all-in-together angle worked.

With eight minutes to play, SC led 65-60.

Both outfits labored through the opening ticks of the final period, exchanging baskets in panic-attack style and gasping for air otherwise.

SC's Najee Young stopped the bucket exchange with two free throws at the quarter's 2:03 mark, only to see his handiwork one-upped by Perquimans seconds later.

But as was the case all night, SC answered in unison.

A contortionist-inspired layup with 36.5 seconds to play by sophomore Dominique Morse -- assisted by Young -- provided the Gators an 80-79 lead. When Perquimans was forced to foul after an ensuing turnover, matters were all but over.

In total, the combatants exchanged the lead an astonishing seven times over the final 120 seconds -- capped ultimately by a Landon Smothers free throw with 13.8 seconds remaining.

Ball game.

Spring Creek 81, Perquimans 79.

The hosts were led by Morse, who logged 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Young tallied 14 points and delivered six assists, whilst Jones netted 14 and Thaj Edwards 10 -- along with a combined 16 boards.

Perquimans was paced by senior Bailey Symons, who filed an 18-point outing. Dallas Hall and Malik Leach, both juniors, contributed 16 points apiece.

On the surface, it appears the Gators won because of Morse and Young, two fast-twitch athletes who can do things a second quicker and a second longer than their peers. Or because of Edwards and Jones, who only seem to win hustle plays -- never the contrary. Or because of Smothers, the sophomore quarterback with a penchant for ice-cold, rattlesnake-like free throw shooting.

But it's so much more.

The Gators advanced because they trust each other unequivocally -- and to that end, their coach, a 32-year old firebrand who just so happened to collect his 100th win as the final buzzer sounded.

"We're tough, we're resilient," Jones said. "But you don't win this many games if you don't trust each other. Najee could've taken that shot (by Morse), but he made the extra pass... That's a trust play."

Amen.