Courtesy of SWG assistant coach Greg Vlazny
The Cowboys were in unfamiliar territory to close out the regular season. The Cowboys are trying to bounce back after a loss for the first time this season. Despite the loss, the Cowboys could still clinch at least a share of the Piedmont Triad Conference title for the fourth consecutive season with a victory tonight at High Point Central.
In the previous game between these conference foes, both teams were coming out of the weather cancellations and neither teams were able to prepare. In the end, the Cowboys were too talented and deep for the Bison. This time around, both teams are coming off of losses and trying to end the regular season with a positive win.
How will Southwest respond to the tough loss just a few nights before?
The game opened up sloppy with neither team able to put the ball in the basket until the Cowboys got on the board with two free throws at the 5:30 mark. Stifling defense by the Cowboys held the Bison scoreless for the entire opening frame. However uncharacteristic sloppy play and missed open looks only made the tally 8–0 at quarters end.
The Cowboys continued to hold the Bison off the scoreboard until a made basket a minute into the quarter to make it 10-2. A Southwest 9-0 spurt pushed the game out until some free throws stopped the bleeding for Central. The margin got to 27-8 until the Bison ended the half on a 4-0 spurt taking the tally to 27-12 headed into the break.
The third-quarter was when Southwest finally got into a rhythm on both sides of the ball and got the lead two 50–20 until late three pointer by Central closed the frame at 50-23.
The final frame was a frantic and sloppy battle as Southwest’s bench scrapped until the final horn at 66–47.
With the win Southwest clinches at least a share of the regular season championship for the 4th straight year. Central was led by Raekwon Blocker with 12 points. Southwest was paced by Orlando Smith with (17), Kaymon Mitchell (13), Kameron Langley (11), and Kobe Langley with (10).
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
HPC 0 12 11 24 47
Southwest 08 19 23 16 66
HPC (10-14, 2-8)
Lae’Quan Little 7
Jo’el Jenkins 5
Jordan Twyman 11
Ryan Williams 2
John Furr 2
Zab McPhail 5
Mohammed Alshanteer 1
Raekwon Blocker 12
Dylan McBride 2
Southwest (23-1, 9-1)
Orlando Smith 17
Kobe Langley 10
Christian Martin 7
Cooper Cunningham 8
Kameron Langley 11
Kaymon Mitchell 13