Lucas leads Central boys over Cascia Hall
BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Friday, February 22, 2013
2/22/13 at 6:17 AM
Central senior guard Delvon Lucas set the tone from start to finish in a Class 4A regional winners bracket game at Webster's Bill Allen Field House on Thursday night.
Lucas scored 31 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to lead the 12th-ranked Braves past Cascia Hall 58-51.
"I've talked to Delvon all year and told him, 'We go as you go,' " Central coach Eli K. Brown III said. "And tonight he was Mr. Clutch - from the (free-throw) line and defensively. He's matured in the last two weeks. He's become a vocal and emotional leader for us and that's what you need in the playoffs. All 5-foot-8 of him, he's full of fire and brimstone. And that's what I love about him - he won't quit."
Chaz Glover added nine points and 11 rebounds for Central (12-11), which advances to play the winner of Friday's Berryhill-Blackwell game at 8 p.m. Monday at Webster. Cascia (9-13) will face Friday's Metro Christian-Oologah winner at 3 p.m. Saturday at Webster.
Patrick Kaltenbacher and Adam Outlaw each had 11 points to lead Cascia.
Lucas, who averages 22 points, made 7-of-8 free throws in the final period and his teammates sank 5-of-6 to seal the victory.
"We work on free throws so much we've gotten a lot better throughout the season," Brown said. "It was a grind-out game. It was a playoff game. Nobody wanted to lose. Cascia gave us everything we wanted."
The Braves never trailed after Lucas sank two treys in the first quarter to give Central a 13-6 lead. Cascia, however, stayed within striking range until Central rebounded a Commandos 3-pointer that narrowly missed with five seconds left and Central ahead by six.
Lucas looked to score more in the fourth quarter.
"I had to after (teammate) Shamar Manuel went out with an ankle injury," Lucas said.
Cascia tied the game at 19 midway through the second quarter but Lucas responded with a basket. He scored eight in the second quarter to help Central take a 25-21 lead into intermission.
The Braves built their lead to 42-32 early in the fourth quarter but Cascia rallied as it made 16-of-18 free throws in the final eight minutes. Outlaw sank two free throws to cut Central's lead to 46-42 with 3:29 remaining. Jakobee Large and Glover added two free throws each for a 50-42 lead. Cascia, however, countered with four points from Saxon Bryant in a 10-second span and Outlaws's two free throws to reduce the Braves' lead to 55-51 with 25 seconds left.
Lucas, however, countered with two free throws eight seconds later and Central prevailed for its second straight win after ending a seven-game losing streak.
"We knew we had to keep working hard," Lucas said. "We're clicking at the right time."
CENTRAL 58, CASCIA HALL 51
| Cascia Hall |
10 |
11 |
8 |
22 |
- |
51 |
| Central |
13 |
12 |
13 |
20 |
- |
58 |
Cascia Hall (9-13): Kaltenbacher 11, Outlaw 11, Bryant 9, Carter 9, Hedrick 5, Daugherty 4, Bloomfield 2.
Central (12-11): Lucas 31, Glover 9, Smith 8, Manuel 4, Large 4, Williams 2.
Original Print Headline: Lucas leads Central win
Barry Lewis 918-581-8393
barry.lewis@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Central's Aaron Evans dribbles around Adam Outlaw during Central's 4A basketball playoff win against Cascia Hall at Webster High School on Thursday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Central's Chaz Glover goes to the basket while teammate Cameron Williams (right) and Cascia Hall's Will Daugherty (left) watch from the floor during their game. The Braves won, 58-51, as Glover scored nine points. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
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