Little separated the conference foes Drew Central and McGehee Friday in the Class 3A state championship at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, but the Owls prevailed in the tense affair for a decisive victory in the series and a state crown.
McGehee (28-4) and Drew Central (29-5) combined for four ties and two lead changes in the first three quarters as each team seized control for significant portions at a time. The dynamic shifted in the final quarter, as the lead changed hands seven times among five ties.
The final tie at 49-49 appeared destined to end the game or provide the decisive moment in the game. Drew Central took possession after McGehee senior Zac Henry made a free throw with 1:09 left in the game to give himself 23 points and set the final tie.
The Pirates looked to work possession and save for the last shot until Drew Central sophomore post player Trenton Eubanks made a move to the block. He collided with a defensive player and the referee called a charge with just 19 seconds on the clock.
McGehee called a timeout six seconds later. Out of the timeout, Henry drove to the basket and scored with no foul called to give the Owls a 51-49 lead.
Drew Central senior guard Gary Lucas quickly moved the ball up the court, but lost control of it around the free throw line. Sophomore Zy Chavis recovered and attempted a shot. A foul was called on the attempt with less than two seconds remaining.
Chavis missed the first attempt and coach C.J. Watson called a timeout to draw up a play. The next attempt missed the iron, leaving McGehee with another inbound play.
A long pass was caught by senior Javier Robinson, who was fouled immediately. Robinson missed the first attempt and made the second to set the final score of 52-49. Lucas' desperation heave did not connect.
The victory gave McGehee the deciding success between the 3A-8 conference opponents. Drew Central beat McGehee in McGehee 50-46 on Jan. 26 in conference play.
The Owls won their next four matchups. McGehee notched its own road victory, 60-42, on Feb. 6 at Drew Central in Monticello. The Owls prevailed 57-42 in the district finals and 55-44 in the regional finals.
The Pirates looked determined to reverse the trend, opening up a 10-point lead in the first quarter behind eight points from Monteil Daniels and seven from Zeb Trantham.
Henry led a second-quarter charge with 11 points in the frame. He had 14 points by halftime gave the Owls their first lead at 26-25 with 2:35 remaining in the half.
McGehee closed the half on a 10-0 run and led 29-25 after two quarters.
Two baskets by sophomore Travarus Shead and 3-pointer by Trantham had Drew Central tied with McGehee 33-33 early in the quarter. Shead did not score a point before halftime, but finished with a team-high 14 as the two teams traded baskets the rest of the way.
Shead also had six rebounds. Trantham finished with 12 points and Daniels scored 10.
The Pirates shot 18-for-34, 52.9 percent, from the field; 5-for-13, 38.5 percent from 3-point; and 8-for-11 at the free throw line for 72.7 percent. The Owls only shot 32.1 percent, 17 of 53, while missing all six 3-point attempts, but finished 18-for-25 for 72 percent at the free throw line.
Henry led all scorers with 25 points to go along with nine rebounds. Junior DeWayne Railey added eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The victory was the final game of McGehee coach Jerome Pace's career. He is retiring after 31 years in coaching.
Sports on 03/10/2018