Wildcats ride late run into South tourney
By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Feb. 19, 2003
DEKALB Momentum can be a very important thing in a basketball game just ask the Kemper County Wildcats.
The Wildcats rode the momentum of a 15-0 run in the third quarter to blow past Bay Springs 77-54 and into the South State Tournament.
"We just weren't ready to stop playing," said Kemper County coach Arthur Carter. "We're ready to keep on going further. Right now, we are on an eight-game winning streak. We want to continue winning ball games and go on to state."
Bay Springs jumped out to an early 12-6 lead in the opening quarter on the strength of a 6-0 run.
Kemper County responded with baskets from Rodricus Hopson and Shardricus Thompson to cut the lead to two, but the Bulldogs closed the first quarter on a 4-0 run to take a 16-10 lead.
The Wildcats started the second quarter on a 7-2 run to pull within one of the lead.
Thompson captured the lead for Kemper County, for the first time in the contest, nailing a basket with 2:39 remaining in the opening half.
The Bulldogs' Reggie Shelwood tied the game on the visiting team's next possession, but Omarion Backstrom's dunk off an offensive rebound gave the Wildcats the lead for good.
Kemper County entered the break with a slim 27-24 advantage.
The Bulldogs pulled to within a point of the lead in the opening minutes of the second half, but Terrence Westerfield quickly regained the momentum for Kemper County.
The senior took an inbound pass with one hand and slammed it home on an alley-oop for a 30-27 Wildcats' lead.
The play sparked the Wildcats and after a pair of Bulldogs' turnovers, Hopson hit a basket and two free throws. Thompson followed with a three-pointer increasing Kemper County's lead to 37-27.
Westerfield converted a three-point play, with 3:47 left to play in the third, to keep the run going. Gary Griffin drained another three-point shot to put the Wildcats up 43-27.
The Bulldogs cut the lead to 14, but the Wildcats responded with a 7-2 run and took a 53-34 lead into the fourth quarter.
Bay Springs opened the final eight minutes of play on a 10-2 run, with Josh Crosby connecting on a pair of threes to cut the deficit to 55-44.
The Wildcats responded with an 8-0 run, led by six points from Westerfield, to put the game away. Kemper County outscored the Bay Springs 12-7 in the final three minutes to hold on for the victory.
"I believe Terrence Westerfield came through like a true senior is supposed to play," Carter said. "Omarion Backstrom and Gary Griffin both stepped up like big men, and I'm very proud of them. Nobody gave us a chance, but we want to go on and continue winning."
Westerfield paced Kemper County's offense with a game-high 27 points. Thompson added 15 points in the Wildcats' win, and Hopson scored 13. Backstrom notched 12 points for Kemper County.
Shelwood led the Bulldogs' offense with 16 points, and Crosby added 14. Jessup Crosby had 10 points in the loss.
The Wildcats improve to 18-13 on the year, and they will play in the South State tournament on Friday night.
