Stephenson’s Miracle Gray (5) drives past Miller Grove’s Imani Richardson in Stephenson’s Region 6-5A victory. (Photo by Mark Brock)
A furious fourth quarter rally by the Miller Grove Lady Wolverines came up just inches sort of forcing overtime as the Stephenson Lady Jaguars held on for a 47-44 Region 6-5A girls’ high school basketball victory at Stephenson on Tuesday night.
Nailah Mannings’ offensive rebound and basket with 6:32 to play gave Stephenson a 12-point lead at 42-30 and the Lady Jaguars looked to be in control of the game.
Miller Grove then took advantage of a pair of turnovers and good work on the boards to go on a 10-0 run that included a momentum turning three-pointer by Imani Richardson and Chrystal Ezechukwu’s layup with 3:26 remaining closed the gap to 42-40.
Manning came up with another big offensive rebound off a missed free throw and was fouled. She stepped to the line and hit both free throws to push the lead back out to four (44-40) with 2:59 to play.
Stephenson would only hit 5 of 10 free throws in the final 3:26 as the Lady Wolverines again pulled within two (44-46) on a pair of Alexia Strong free throws with 46 seconds to play.
After a pair of misses Stephenson still was clinging to the two-point lead (46-44) with 21 seconds to play when Kayla Holmes went to the line and hit one of two to make it a three-point advantage at 47-44.
Miller Grove moved the ball around and Richardson got the open look from the top of the key for the potential game-tying three-pointer as the clock ticked down to five seconds. The shot looked good as it rattled the rim, but it came back out and into the hands of Holmes who ran out the final seconds to preserve the victory for Stephenson.
Miracle Gray finished with a game-high 20 points to lead Stephenson (17-7, 9-4) after hitting for 14 in the first half. Nailah Manning finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds for the Lady Jaguars.
Alexia Strong and Imani Richardson both finished with 9 points to lead Miller Grove (14-10, 9-3) while Chrystal Ezechukwu finished with 7 points and 13 rebounds.
The two teams now prepare for the Region 6-5A Tournament to be held at Banneker next week.
Miller Grove’s Raylon Richardson (4) goes in for a dunk on a breakaway as Stephenson’s Deion’Tray Fagin (10) tries to catch up. (Photo by Mark Brock)
(B) Miller Grove 62, Stephenson 45
McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American Alterique Gilbert scored 18 points to lead the Class 5A No. 1 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines to a 62-45 victory over the hosts Stephenson Jaguars Region 6-5A boys’ action on Tuesday.
Gilbert got an offensive put back to start the second half and added a three-pointer as the Wolverines would build on a 31-17 lead. Aaron Augustin’s three-pointer pushed the lead out to 20 at 43-33 with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter.
Stephenson put together a rally to cut the lead in half in the fourth quarter pulling within 50-40 on Reggie Taylor’s layup with 2:23 to play.
The Wolverines would answer with a Raylon Richardson three-pointer and Gilbert’s driving layup made it 57-40 with 1:16 to play.
Justin Larkin hit his second three of the game to trim it to 57-43 with 1:08 to play, but the Wolverines would hit five of six free throws in the final 1:03 including four consecutive by Augustin to keep the Jaguars as a distance.
Larkin’s first three-pointer came with 3:23 to play in the first quarter knotted the game at 7-7, but the Wolverines would respond 9-0 run to end the quarter. Augustin would have four points in the run including the final basket as Gilbert made a steal and passed it up the court to Augustin for an easy layup to end the quarter up 16-7.
Gilbert hit a pair of threes in the second period as the Wolverines with the aid of Naquante Hardy’s five points (a three-pointer included) pulled out to a 31-17 halftime lead.
Gilbert would add eight rebounds to go with his 18 points while Aaron Augustin added 11 points and Naquante Hardy 10 in the win.
Stephenson was led by Deion’Tray Fagin (10 points, 11 rebounds) and Aaron Sterling (10 points, 9 rebounds).