Saints recapture swagger, advance to face Wayne
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
Coming off a dramatic double overtime loss to Tunica just five days ago the 3rd ranked Greenville Christian Saints knew Tuesday’s first round Class A State matchup with 2nd ranked Claiborne was a loser go home game. The motivation from that loss was revealing as the Saints took the lead for good five minutes into the opening quarter and kept Claiborne in check en-route to a 61-55 win to advance to the second round where they’ll face a hot 7th ranked Wayne squad.
Claiborne’s Oliver Willis got off to a scorching start as the senior scored the Rebel’s first seven points to grab a 7-6 lead with 3:09 remaining in the first quarter. Greenville Christian recaptured the lead on a Harry Williams driving bucket and the senior guard promptly converted a half court steal into a quick lay-in to put the Saints on top 10-7 at the 2:45 mark. Mike Hardy hit on one of two free throws to increase the lead to 11-7 but an Oliver Willis steal and basket pulled the Rebels to within two points at 11-9. Greenville Christian would answer and grab their biggest lead on a Hunter Burford 3-pointer from the deep corner to end the opening quarter with the Saints maintaining a 14-9 advantage. Greenville Christian threatened to pull away to begin the second quarter. Following a Claiborne free throw the Saints extended their lead to 17-10 on another Burford 3-pointer and at the 5:33 mark Mike Hardy’s basket in the paint pushed the lead to 19-10.
That nine point lead evaporated quickly as Claiborne capitalized on three consecutive Greenville Christian turnovers and reeled off six straight points, all coming from Oliver Willis, to trim the deficit to 19-16 with 3:25 left in the half.
Greenville Christian answered the challenge and produced a 10-0 run to extend the lead back out 29-16 behind an effective transition game fueled by the play of Harry Williams and junior Steven Suber. The Saints sprinted into the locker-room at the half with a comfortable 30-19 lead.

2nd Half.........
Willie Dean’s lay-up in transition and a Justin Leavy free throw at the 4:04 mark gave the Saints their biggest advantage at 38-22. Claiborne closed the third quarter with a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Jack Colvin to bring the spread back to twelve points at 43-31.

Claiborne managed to pull to within seven points at 57-50 following a Taylor Tuggle 3-pointer from the wing with 1:29 remaining and although Greenville Christian converted on just 4/12 free throws the final 1:24 Claiborne couldn’t capitalize as the Rebels season ended at the hands of Greenville Christian 61-55.
Greenville Christian (30-4) was led by junior Willie Dean with 15 points, Harry Williams and Hunter Burford had 13 each, Steven Suber 10 and Justin Leavy and Mike Hardy 5 apiece.
Oliver Willis led Claiborne (26-3) with 21 points, Ray Malone added 11, Jack Colvin and Taylor Tuggle had 7 each, Jadarius Willis 6 and Jesse Beard 2.
Greenville Christian will take on Wayne (22-5) Thursday at 6:30 pm.

Post Game Comments: GCS Head Coach Calvin Knight