Prep holds off Central Private to advance
Southern Sports & Travel
Jackson Prep improved to 37-1 and advanced to today’s Overall Championship final with a 53-43 win over Central Private last night but the Patriots had to stave off a fourth quarter Rebel rally to secure a spot in the title game.
Prep got out to a 6-0 lead in a slow paced first quarter and held Central Private scoreless until a Mitch Van Asten 3-pointer from the corner at the 3:56 mark cut the Prep lead in half at 6-3.
Central Private would pull even with Jackson Prep at 8-8 on two Alex Overs free throws with 1:37 left in the quarter but Prep closed with five straight points to grab a 13-8 advantage at the end of one quarter of play.
(Above) Josh Williams (#23) of Jackson Prep slams home a dunk before halftime
Prep opened the second quarter with two momentum changers. Cade Noble drained a 3-pointer from the wing 22 seconds into the quarter and Josh Williams slammed home a dunk off a Central Private turnover to extend the Patriot’s lead to 18-8 with 6:54 remaining in the half.
Central Private stayed within striking distance as they narrowed the gap to 26-20 on a Piers Carroll bucket at the 1:59 mark but Prep converted three consecutive Rebel turnovers into baskets, one a Josh Williams baseline slam, to end the half with a 32-20 lead.
Central Private pulled to within six points at 34-28 at the 4:21 mark of the third quarter on an Alex Overs slam dunk, plus one, but Prep maintained a six point edge to close the third quarter on top 41-35.
Ryan Buchanan’s 15 foot jumper extended Prep’s lead to 43-35 to start the fourth quarter but Central Private pulled to within two points at 43-41 on consecutive 3-pointers from Lance Wicker and Mitch Van Astin with 5:38 remaining in regulation.
Jackson Prep capitalized on two Central Private turnovers as Buchanan drained a 17 foot jumper and De Graeber served up an assist to Thomas Dunbar to push the Patriot lead to 47-41 with 2:48 remaining.
(Above) Alex Overs (#12) of Central Private goes rim in the fourth quarter
Following two Central Private free throws that cut the Prep lead back to four points at 47-43 senior point guard De Graeber canned 6/7 free throws down the stretch to preserve a 53-43 win for Jackson Prep.
Jackson Prep was led by Josh Williams with a game high 13 points, Ryan Buchanan added 11 points and 9 rebounds, Thomas Dunbar 11, De Graeber 10 points, Cade Noble 6 and Wic Smith 2.
Simpson Anderson led Central Private (31-8) with 12 points, Piers Carroll added 11 points and 9 rebounds, Mitch Van Astin 9, Alex Overs 8 and Lance Wicker 3.
