Scoop27
02-28-2015, 11:20 AM
WALLER — In a Class 4A Region IV area round contest where there were so many twists and turns, it was the Columbia Roughnecks who ended up with the last laugh.
In the final eight minutes there were several lead changes, a technical foul, turnovers and some dazzling scoring plays from both ends. But it was Columbia senior Jarius Kesee who scored the final four points for the ’Necks (26-5) to give them a 63-62 win.
With 1:02 left, and Taylor with the ball, it was Kesee who came up with a big steal as the Ducks were holding on for a final shot. Kesee proceeded with the steal for a layup and a 61-59 lead with 20 seconds remaining.
The Ducks came right back, but Taylor’s Chance Tatrow was cornered by two Columbia defenders as he threw the ball away and John Speights came up with the loose ball. Kesee grabbed the ball from Speights and headed to the bucket where he was fouled. He sank two free throws for a 63-59 lead with 8 seconds remaining.
The Ducks still had time.
“I said let him shoot and run away from the ball,” Columbia coach Robert Cash said of the last play. “I told them get away from the ball, don’t touch it, don’t do anything to the ball.”
Tatrow, uncontested, sank a trey with only two seconds remaining and the clock ran out.
“We played sloppy, something we need to take care of because Wharton is going to be tough in the next round,” Cash said.
Wharton beat Wimberley, 55-47, and will face the ‘Necks in the quarterfinal round next.
It wasn’t a pretty contest between Columbia and the Ducks as both teams had more than 20 turnovers each.
The Ducks came out in the first quarter and were simply a couple of steps faster than the Roughnecks, not only on the court but on the boards. Junior B.J. Tealer made himself known to Columbia by scoring 11 first-quarter points with the Ducks opening up a 17-9 lead.
It was more of the same in the second period as Columbia’s guards were having a tough time with Tealer and just in general.
“My guards could not handle the ball, or keep the ball,” Cash said. “But it was one of those games where others had to step up, and Kesee really stepped up.”
With the Roughnecks trailing, 24-17, after a putback by Taylor’s Cordez Maddox, Cash pulled his guards and let Kesee run the show.
“He was the only one who was not turning the ball over,” Cash said of the move.
It worked as Columbia started playing better but were still getting outrebounded by the shorter Ducks.
The ’Necks, however, went on a 15-9 run to end the second period to take a 32-30 halftime lead after Kesee was fouled when he took a desperation 3-pointer with time running down when Greg Caldwell ran right into him.
Kesee (27 points) sank all three free throws with 0.19 ticks on the clock. But Kesee didn’t have fun at the free throw line in the first half, going 4-for-11.
“We were being sloppy in that first half and I don’t know why, maybe it was the long bus ride,” Cash added.
Columbia opened as much as a seven-point lead, 42-35, in the third quarter after a trey from Kesee and a beautiful dish from Kalen Williams to Speights on the inside.
But the Ducks came right back with five quick points on a couple of free throws from Malik Jackson and a 3-pointer from Tealer.
In the final minute, Taylor took a one-point lead, 46-45, when Maddox got loose on the inside.
But Kesee put another in right before the buzzer to give the ‘Necks a one-point advantage with eight minutes left, 47-46.
Jayson Faith finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Brandon Harris only had seven points but he had six big assists.
Taylor’s Tealer led the Ducks with 25 points as they finished the season at 25-6.
In the final eight minutes there were several lead changes, a technical foul, turnovers and some dazzling scoring plays from both ends. But it was Columbia senior Jarius Kesee who scored the final four points for the ’Necks (26-5) to give them a 63-62 win.
With 1:02 left, and Taylor with the ball, it was Kesee who came up with a big steal as the Ducks were holding on for a final shot. Kesee proceeded with the steal for a layup and a 61-59 lead with 20 seconds remaining.
The Ducks came right back, but Taylor’s Chance Tatrow was cornered by two Columbia defenders as he threw the ball away and John Speights came up with the loose ball. Kesee grabbed the ball from Speights and headed to the bucket where he was fouled. He sank two free throws for a 63-59 lead with 8 seconds remaining.
The Ducks still had time.
“I said let him shoot and run away from the ball,” Columbia coach Robert Cash said of the last play. “I told them get away from the ball, don’t touch it, don’t do anything to the ball.”
Tatrow, uncontested, sank a trey with only two seconds remaining and the clock ran out.
“We played sloppy, something we need to take care of because Wharton is going to be tough in the next round,” Cash said.
Wharton beat Wimberley, 55-47, and will face the ‘Necks in the quarterfinal round next.
It wasn’t a pretty contest between Columbia and the Ducks as both teams had more than 20 turnovers each.
The Ducks came out in the first quarter and were simply a couple of steps faster than the Roughnecks, not only on the court but on the boards. Junior B.J. Tealer made himself known to Columbia by scoring 11 first-quarter points with the Ducks opening up a 17-9 lead.
It was more of the same in the second period as Columbia’s guards were having a tough time with Tealer and just in general.
“My guards could not handle the ball, or keep the ball,” Cash said. “But it was one of those games where others had to step up, and Kesee really stepped up.”
With the Roughnecks trailing, 24-17, after a putback by Taylor’s Cordez Maddox, Cash pulled his guards and let Kesee run the show.
“He was the only one who was not turning the ball over,” Cash said of the move.
It worked as Columbia started playing better but were still getting outrebounded by the shorter Ducks.
The ’Necks, however, went on a 15-9 run to end the second period to take a 32-30 halftime lead after Kesee was fouled when he took a desperation 3-pointer with time running down when Greg Caldwell ran right into him.
Kesee (27 points) sank all three free throws with 0.19 ticks on the clock. But Kesee didn’t have fun at the free throw line in the first half, going 4-for-11.
“We were being sloppy in that first half and I don’t know why, maybe it was the long bus ride,” Cash added.
Columbia opened as much as a seven-point lead, 42-35, in the third quarter after a trey from Kesee and a beautiful dish from Kalen Williams to Speights on the inside.
But the Ducks came right back with five quick points on a couple of free throws from Malik Jackson and a 3-pointer from Tealer.
In the final minute, Taylor took a one-point lead, 46-45, when Maddox got loose on the inside.
But Kesee put another in right before the buzzer to give the ‘Necks a one-point advantage with eight minutes left, 47-46.
Jayson Faith finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Brandon Harris only had seven points but he had six big assists.
Taylor’s Tealer led the Ducks with 25 points as they finished the season at 25-6.