Wings & Prayers

Wings & Prayers
Epic semifinal game has already been billed as one of the best in school history
BY GEORGE ROBINSON
The Leaf-Chronicle

MURFREESBORO — Mark it in the annals of Clarksville High basketball lore. Talk about it at the watering hole with your grandchildren generations from now.

For those who saw it, they'd swear it was a dream.

But for Clarksville's basketball team, their dream is only one game away.

In what has become an instant classic, Clarksville rallied from a first-quarter deficit, watched a 10-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate then absorbed 12 minutes of overtime periods to finally end Oakland's season, beating the Patriots 70-63 in a triple-overtime thriller Friday night in the semifinals of the TSSAA Boys' State Basketball Championships at the Murphy Center.

The victory gives the Wildcats their first state title berth since 1964.

"I've already had three people tell me that this was the best state tournament semifinal they've ever seen," an exhausted Clarksville coach Ted Young said. "This was two teams playing at the highest level and giving everything of themselves. It was an honor to be a part of it and the loser of this game certainly doesn't deserve to lose."

Ryne Harper had another outstanding night, finishing with a team high 20 points, including shooting 4-of-7 from behind the 3-point arc. Tyrone Caldwell had 14 points and eight assists while Shaun Merriweather rebounded from a lackluster quarterfinal game against Memphis Ridgeway Thursday, to post 13 points and 13 rebounds Friday.

"I've been playing basketball since I was three and I'm 17 now," Caldwell said. "I've never played in a game like this. It was so incredible I'm still at a loss for words."

Oakland's Chaisson Allen, a Northeastern signee, showed his Division-I skills pouring in 36 points. Shane Blissard added 15 points for the Patriots.

"I haven't been in a game like this with all the ebb and flow and the emotions," Oakland coach Randy King said. "It was a great game between two great teams and Clarksville was the better one this night."

The Wildcats (33-2) will face Maryville (28-7) for the Class 3-A state championship at 7 p.m. today. Clarksville, who is riding a 23-game win streak, has never won a state title.

"We didn't have any goals of being the greatest Clarksville High team ever," Young said. "We just wanted to be the most together team. We want to enjoy the journey. And now there are only two teams left where the journey will stop abruptly for one."

Trailing 36-35, Clarksville shot into the fourth quarter on a 13-2 run as Harper buried a pair of treys to open the frame. In less than 2:00, the Wildcats were enjoying a 48-38 lead.

But Allen put the Patriots (32-4) on his slender shoulders. He dropped in a 3-pointer with 4:40 left to cut the lead to 48-41. Oakland forced Harper into a trap and stole the ball as Allen connected on another three. Shawn Dowlen found himself the victim of Oakland's defense as his penetration to the basket was picked by Jaffarious Wade. Wade drove to the basket and drew a three-point play. His foul shot with 3:54 left cut Clarksville's lead to 48-47.

Allen tied the game at 50, draining the sixth of his seven 3-pointers, on the night, over the smaller Caldwell with 40 seconds left in regulation.

But Dowlen responded powering his way under the basket for two points with 14 ticks remaining as Clarksville took a 52-50 lead.

Allen, however, reached the foul line with 6 seconds left and calmly sank both shots to send the game into overtime.

Both teams traded points in the extra period before Harper nailed a 3-pointer from the corner with 2:30 left for a 57-54 lead.

Blissard countered with his 3-pointer with 1:42 left to tie the game. Oakland had an opportunity to get off a game-winning shot but Wade turned the ball over to the Wildcats and Harper found himself with the basketball 14 feet from the goal. His shot, however, was blocked by two Patriot defenders sending the game into a second overtime.

Clarksville's LaVonte Henderson and Adam Barnes hit two straight baskets to give the Wildcats a 61-57 lead as the second extra period began. But Allen, whose outside shooting forced Young to abandon a matchup zone that has been effective since early February, saved Oakland again.

His two foul shots with 1:22 left cut the lead to 61-59.

Harper's drive for a lay up with 44 seconds left gave the Wildcats a four-point lead but fate stepped in.

Caldwell almost came up with a key steal, deflecting a pass from Wade to Allen. Allen, however, caught the ball and hesitated slightly, pulling Henderson out to challenge the shot. Allen stroked the 3-pointer and drew the foul, completing a rare four-point play with 31 seconds left.

The final seconds of the second overtime period were whacky as the ball bounced around between two Clarksville and three Oakland players before Wade took a heave from behind halfcourt that nearly found its mark.

"We hit baskets and they hit baskets," Merriweather said. "I couldn't keep up and I was out on the floor playing. I was just shocked that both teams kept coming out quarter after quarter."

Undaunted, Clarksville would finally put the game away in the third overtime. Oakland missed all five of its shots in the third OT.

Barnes, who finished with 10 points, connected on a 3-pointer for the period's first points with 1:41 left in the game. Henderson, Harper and Barnes would seal it on the charity stripe, going 4-of-6 from the line to secure the victory.

"I just feel bad for our seniors that they were on the short end of this," King said. "They've been a great group and this was a great game and to lose it is tough."

Clarksville finished the contest, shooting 50.8 percent (34-of-68) while holding Oakland to just 28.8 percent. Young put a taller Henderson (6-foot-4) on Allen (6-5), forcing the senior to work harder for shots in the fourth quarter and overtime periods. Allen shot 12-of-33 and 7-for-17 from the 3-point line.

But the Wildcats out-rebounded Oakland, 49-37, despite the Patriots size advantage with 6-8 center Kit Carlton. Carlton was limited to just 1-for-6 from the field and three rebounds.

Now the Wildcats face Maryville who'll play for its first state championship.

"My kids trust me to come up with a game plan," Young said. "I don't know what it's going to be. Our game plan is to score more points than Maryville."

Clarksville 70, Oakland 63

Oakland 16 8 12 16 5 6 0 — 63

Clarksville 9 14 12 17 5 6 7 — 70

Clarksville: Adam Barnes 10, Ryne Harper 20, Tyrone Caldwell 14, LaVonte Henderson 9, Shaun Merriweather 13, Shawn Dowlen 4. Team totals 29 7-12.

Oakland: Allen Chaisson 36, Jaffarious Wade 10, Shane Blissard 15, Kit Carlton 2. Team totals 21 11-14.

3-point goals: Clarksville 5 (Harper 4, Barnes). Oakland 10 (Chaisson 7, Blissard 3).

Records: Clarksville (33-2). Oakland (32-4).

George Robinson is the prep writer for The Leaf-Chronicle. He can be reached by e-mail at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or by telephone at 245-0747.