CHS boys outlast Southeast for finals spot

GARNER -- Clayton’s 53-50 victory over Southeast Raleigh in Wednesday’s Greater Neuse 4A conference semifinal game was well worth the wait.

After a 30-minute delay because there were no referees present by the scheduled tip- off time, the teams treated the fans to a barnstormer.

“The fans got their money’s worth,” Southeast coach John Baker said.

Trailing 48-47 with just over a minute to play, the Bulldogs turned the ball over in back-to-back possessions after battling back from a nine-point deficit just three minutes earlier. Clayton’s Gary Clark then scored a bucket underneath and was fouled in the process to push the Comet lead to 51-47 with 40 seconds to play.

“It was a carryover from (Tuesday),” Baker said. “We didn’t come out sharp in practice and the things you don’t do in practice always come back and get you in the game. We worked on passes yesterday and they didn’t take it seriously in the beginning and it comes back to get you when you don’t do it the right way.”

Southeast, which jumped out to a 17-7 lead to begin the game, trailed 45-36 with under five minutes to play before stringing together a 11-3 run in which David Washington scored eight of his team-high 16 points.

“We both really, really wanted to win the game,” Clayton coach Denny Medlin said. “I thought the big key for us was when we didn’t rotate well in our defense they knocked down shots because they were open and when we did rotate well it was a matter of clearing the defensive glass. When we did those things, we were pretty good defensively.”

Clark was limited to just five points in the first half while being guarded mostly by Justin Morris. At the end of the first half, Morris took a hard fall under the basket and hit his head on the floor and did not return. Clark got away for 11 points in the second half.

“I think they made a more conscious effort in the second half to find (Clark) and get him the ball,” Baker said.

Medlin credited his guards for getting Clark the ball more in the second half.

“It was more a matter of our guards being able to handle the pressure and get the ball to Gary. It’s easier said than done when you’re playing a defensive team like Southeast Raleigh. They really get after it,” Medlin said.

Adonis Banks complemented Clark’s 16 points with 13 of his own for the Comets, who improved to 19-5 in winning their ninth straight.

For Southeast (13-7), Derrick Snipes backed Washington’s effort with 14 points points while William Walker chipped in 12 points for his squad.

CHS 58, West 42

The West Johnston boys basketball team was eliminated from the first round of the Greater Neuse 4A Conference tournament 58-42 at the hands of No. 2 seed Clayton (18-5 overall), thus ending the season for the Wildcats.

West Johnston (2-12 in conference and the No. 7 seed) finished the season 3-19 overall.

“They’re a great group of guys and I’d coach them every day,” Wildcat coach Kris Bennett said. “They’ve got a great attitude. They played hard all year. They have good leadership and they give it to me every day.”

The Wildcats showed some resilience Monday, tying the game early in the second half and trailing just 24-22 midway through the third quarter against the Comets, who advanced to play Southeast Raleigh.

Gary Clark scored 18 points and was aided by Rodney Moore’s 13 for host Clayton.

“I thought it came down to not finishing around the rim,” Bennett said. “When you play Clayton, you worry about Gary blocking shots and it gets in your head a little bit and I think that’s what happened to us tonight. We were a little tentative around the basket and missed some shots we normally make.”

Montrell Brooks led the West Johnston effort with 14.

Clayton capitalized at the foul line, sinking 23 of its 30 attempts while West Johnston was 11-for-16.

Clinging to a 39-29 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Comets scored 11 of their final 19 points from the foul line to close it out.

The Wildcats had nine games this season where they trailed by 10 points or less entering the fourth quarter.