Central Boys Prevail Over Loudon By 12, Despite Redskins' Late Rally

Purple Pounders Will Meet Red Bank Saturday In 3-AA Semis In Loudon

  • Friday, February 27, 2015
  • John Hunt
Central's Ryan Montgomery prepares to sink one of his five free throws en route to a game high 19 points to help the Purple Pounders to their 70-58 win over Loudon in a Region 3-AA quarterfinal match-up. Central will face Red Bank in a region semifinal contest on Saturday at Loudon.
Central's Ryan Montgomery prepares to sink one of his five free throws en route to a game high 19 points to help the Purple Pounders to their 70-58 win over Loudon in a Region 3-AA quarterfinal match-up. Central will face Red Bank in a region semifinal contest on Saturday at Loudon.
photo by Dennis Norwood

Central coach Rick Rogers said that all he wanted to do was win and advance.

His District 6-AA champion Purple Pounders played host to District 5-AA fourth-place finisher Loudon on Saturday evening and it probably shouldn't have been close.

But someone forgot to tell the visiting Redskins.

Central had a 13-point lead at halftime and the difference was 52-30 when the third quarter ended, but the Redskins never slowed down and they never stopped playing.

Loudon got to within six points late in the game, but that's as close as it got as Central hung on for a 70-58 win in the Region 3-AA boys quarterfinal game.

With the win, Central will now face Red Bank on Saturday afternoon in the second boys' semifinal  at Loudon.  Brainerd plays the McMinn Central-Hixson winner at 3 with Central-Red Bank tipping off about 4:30.

The Sequoyah and McMinn Central girls, who both rolled to convincing wins over Central and Brainerd, respectively, will play the girls championship at 6.

"It went pretty much according to plan until we took our starters out and we lost all of our momentum," said Rogers after his team had improved to 19-4 overall.

"We were just wanting to win and save our legs as much as possible, but things got interesting late when they got within six points.  Loudon played with a lot of heart and they certainly didn't want their season to end, but we just had to take care of the ball at the end.

"We haven't done much of anything in the last eight days, so we were really sloppy at times, but they did what I asked and I'm just happy to be advancing," Rogers nodded.

Loudon coach Trae Watkins liked the way his team battled back when they looked dead in the water when the fourth quarter began.

"I think Central was thinking it was over, but my guys will always fight to the end and that's what we did here today," he began after exiting the Loudon dressing room.

""I don't think we shot the ball well the whole game, but we started finding our rhythm at the end.  I can't be any more proud as that was the epitome of Loudon basketball.  We got behind, but we put our heads down and fought like crazy to come back.  The ball just didn't bounce our way and we simply ran out of time," Watkins added.

Zach Gillis converted a layup with 6:10 left in the third quarter as Loudon got to within 11 at 36-25 before Central went on a 16-3 run.  R.T. McBride sank two free throws at the end of the quarter to draw the Redskins within 52-30 when the quarter ended.

While the Central faithful thought the game was over, that's when Loudon started playing for all they were worth.

The lead was down to 13 at 60-47 following a drive down the lane by Tyler Ferguson with 4:13 to play.  A short bank shot by Jack Nichols cut it to 62-56 two minutes later.

A slam by Ryan Montgomery extended Central's lead to eight before Jacob Arden made it 64-58 with two free throws at the 1:08 mark.

Loudon had the ball and the chance to get even closer, but the Redskins had a critical turnover at the end as the Purple Pounders scored the final six points to avoid the upset.

Montomery finished with 19 points to lead Central while teammates Tre Tiller and Jamichael Poole were also in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Arden was tops for Loudon with 16 points.  Ferguson followed with 15 while Nichols added 11.

Central had an unofficial 33-22 rebounding edge with Emmanuel Lane and Montgomery both grabbing six for the Purple Pounders and Nichols claiming seven for the Redskins.

LOUDON  11  10  9  28  --  58

CENTRAL  17  17  18  18  --  70

LOUDON (58) -- McBride 5, Ferguson 15, Arden 16, Norton 2, Smalley 2, Jackson, Nichols 11, Gillis 7, Mills.

CENTRAL (70) -- Tiller 11, Billingsley 6, Hayes 6, Montgomery 19, Benford 5, Poole 10, Swafford 4, Lane 4, Abshire, Hudgins 5.

3-POINT GOALS: Loudon 7 (McBride, Ferguson 2, Arden 4); Central 3 (Tiller, Benford, Hudgins).

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@Comcast.net)

Central's Emmanuel Lane (44) defends against Loudon's  Tyler Ferguson (1). Ferguson scored 15 points for the Redskins.
Central's Emmanuel Lane (44) defends against Loudon's Tyler Ferguson (1). Ferguson scored 15 points for the Redskins.
photo by Dennis Norwood
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