St Paul beats Twin Springs, advances in CD

From the BHC...

BY Anthony Stevens
Sports Correspondent

The best was saved for last in the opening round of the Cumberland District boys' basketball tournament.

St. Paul rallied to take a 45-44 win over Twin Springs to advance to the semifinals.

The Deacons controlled the pace of the game in the first half, patiently working the ball inside for high percentage shots. St. Paul shot over 50 percent from the floor in the first half to take a 22-17 advantage.

But Twin Springs was unstoppable in the third quarter. Cody Hall, who made his first two shots of the game, made two 3-pointers. The Titans were 8-of-9 from the floor, scoring 20 points to take a 37-32 lead.

Devon Matthews and Hall each scored at the start of the fourth quarter to give the Titans a 41-39 lead, their largest of the game. It appeared Twin Springs had all the momentum over a team it had beaten twice in the regular season.

"We just can't play with a lead," Twin Springs coach John McCrary said. "It's something we've struggled with all year and this was a perfect example."

Twin Springs scored only three points over the final six minutes of the game. St. Paul seniors Ryan Padgett and Daniel Williams were relentless in the final quarter, as the two big men combined to score all 13 points for the Deacons.

The momentum swung when Padgett, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound post, stole the ball and converted a layup.

"I've never done that before," Padgett said. "I made it up the floor, I wasn't sure it was going in but I got that shooters roll and it felt great.

"I really felt we would pull this one out. We played good offense, good defense and made our shots when we had to win this game."

Padgett scored in the lane with a running hook shot to give the Deacons a 44-43 lead with 2:10 left. Padgett then picked up his fourth foul and the Titans Kris Jordan went to the line making 1-of-2 to tie the game.

On St. Paul's next possession, Padgett made what proved to be the eventual game-winning free throw.

Both Padgett (19 points and 10 rebounds) and Williams (10 points and 12 rebounds) finished with double-doubles.

"Williams stepped up and played huge," St. Paul coach Patrick Damron said. "That's what you expect a senior to do in that situation. Padgett is a scrappy player. He gets offensive rebounds, that's what he does. I was proud of my guys. We get to play another day."

The semifinals will be Friday. St. Paul (11-12) will face Castlewood (18-4) and Coeburn (16-7) will battle Thomas Walker (16-7).

ST. PAUL (45)

Ellis 2 0-1 4, Lawson 1 1-2 3, Phillips 4 1-2 9, Williams 5 0-3 10, Padgett 9 1-2 19, Hileman 0 0-0 0, Kilgore 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 3-10 45.

TWIN SPRINGS (44)

Matthews 6 0-0 13, Criswell 0 0-0 0, Jordan 2 3-4 7, Hall 6 2-2 16, Estep 2 4-6 8, Smith 0 0-0 0, Campbell 0 0-0 0, Powers 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 9-12 44.

St. Paul 12 10 10 13"?45

Twin Springs 8 9 20 7"?44

3-point goals"? St. Paul none, Twin Springs 3 (Hall 2, Matthews). Total fouls"? St. Paul 14, Twin Springs 12. Fouled out"?Matthews. Technical"?St. Paul coach Damron.