SWG tops NWG 73-66 for a trip to Piedmont Triad 4-A Finals on Friday night at home

Courtesy of SWG basketball and Director of Operations….

In the first Semi-Final matchup of the Piedmont Triad 4A Conference tournament it
was the Vikings of Northwest against the Cowboys of Southwest. The regular season
was split between the two, and both squads had hopes of earning a birth in the title
game tomorrow night. The Cowboys came out of the gate strong getting up 7-0, but the
Vikings responded by playing the rest of the frame even ending at 14-7. The second
frame had the Vikings try to gain some ground by chipping away slowly but surely,
twice getting the lead down to 3. Then the Cowboys not giving in responded with some
tough nose defense and extending the lead out to 10 twice in the frame. Once again
the sharp perimeter shooting of the Vikings got them back in it quickly with 5
points in a 9 second span making it 34-29. The teams traded one more basket each
taking it to 37-31 into the half in favor of the Cowboys. The second half began with
4 straight points by the Vikings making it 37-35. From there the Cowboys’ lead was
like an accordion as the outside shooting of the Vikings cut it to 46-45 with 3:00
left. Twice more in the frame did the Vikings get it to 1 point but with under a
minute to play in the quarter Southwest got it to 55-51, but a basket just before
the buzzer closed the frame at 55-53. The final quarter was more of the same as each
team traded baskets with Southwest barely clinging to the lead. Finally at the 2:55
mark Northwest tied the game at 63. The Cowboys wouldn’t quit and responded right
away with a basket to go up with 2:35 to play. Missed shots by both teams kept the
margin the same all the way until 38 seconds left Southwest increased the lead to
68-63. Ten seconds later a three pointer by NW made it 68-66. Out of a timeout SW
was able to hit a pair of free-throws to go up 70-66, and eventually hold on for a
very hard fought 73-66 victory to move on to play for the tournament championship.
Northwest was lead by Cody Hylton (22), and Ryan Doerr (13), Nick Powell (11), and
Keaton Hack (10). Southwest was lead by another monster game by Brandon Clyburn (21
Pts, 10 Rebs, and 4 Blks), Braxton Daye (16), and Jordan Hanner (13).

1st   2nd  3rd  4th   Final
Northwest     07   24    22   13     66
Southwest    14    23   18    18    73

Northwest
Hunter Clary 2
H. Billups 2
Cody Hylton 22
Ryan Doerr 13
N. Powell 11
Keaton Haack 10
Matt Palowski 6

Southwest
Ray Bridges 7
Herbie Bridges 7
Jordan Hanner 13
Brandon Clyborn 21
Braxton Daye 16
KJ Langley 2
Anton Morgan 5
Tyliek Brister 2

Vlaz