Game Report on Southwest Guilford Cowboys-Butler Boys Basketball:”No Quit Cowboys” find Cooooooooper Cunningham and late three sends SWG to 4-A Title Tilt

The Cowboys of Southwest Guilford hit the road to Fleming Gymnasium on the campus of UNC Greensboro to face off against the unbeaten #1 Seed, Butler. The Bulldogs came into tonight’s contest as favorites to come out on top of this Final Four match-up. The Cowboys of Southwest were looking to knock off the perfect Butler Bulldogs as well as earn a berth in the State Championship game next weekend.

Both teams came out with fight and determination. The Bulldogs managed to get on the scoreboard first, leading 2-0 at the 7:35 mark. The Cowboys quickly responded to tie the game up just ten seconds later. The teams traded baskets until Butler took the lead at 5-4 with 4:28 to play. Southwest took the lead for the first time following a 3 pointer by Kobe Langley at the 4:10 mark taking it to 7-5. Butler responded with a made free-throw, with the Cowboys scoring again on the other side giving them their largest lead on the night at 9-6 at the 2:50 mark. Butler quickly responded and showed why they won their first 30 games, with a 6-0 run to take a 12-9 lead with 2:02 to go. Southwest managed to shake off the back-to-back turnovers, and stop the bleeding with a basket at the 1:32 mark taking it to 12-11. Once again the Bulldogs scored quickly getting it to 14-11. The Cowboys managed to score one more basket to close the scoring on the opening frame with the Bulldogs winning 14-13.

The Bulldogs came out of the timeout and scored quickly to get the lead to 16-13. After a couple of empty trips for both teams, the Cowboys managed to get on the board to make it 16-15. Some more physical play lead to more empty trips on both sides, by the Bulldogs connected to make it 18-15 at the 6:05 mark. Foul trouble started to mount for the Cowboys, but they still managed to fight for a 4-0 spurt to take the lead at 19-18 with 3:18 to play in the half. The Bulldogs didn’t stay down for long, as they reclaimed the lead at 20-19 with 3:02 to go. Following another foul on the Cowboys, the Bulldogs got a three-pointer to get the largest lead in the game thus far at 23-19 with 2:15 on the clock. A Cooper Cunningham 3 pointer cut the deficit to 23-22, but the Bulldogs got a basket right back to make it 25-22 with 1:35 on the clock. Another Cunningham 3 ball tied the game at 1:20. The Bulldogs managed to get the last points of the half which gave them the halftime lead at 27-25.

After regrouping in the locker room, the Cowboys came right out and tied the game at 27 all. The teams traded baskets, but the Bulldogs physicality started to influence the game as they began to stretch the lead out to 37-31 at the 3:19 mark. The Cowboys couldn’t get into any type rhythm. A made free-throw is all the Cowboys could muster for several possessions, and the Bulldogs kept getting baskets. The Bulldogs controlled the frame and it closed with Butler up 43-34.

The final frame was filled with drama as the Cowboys finally got back to Southwest basketball. Uptempo, pressure, and quickness started to wear the Bulldogs down. After trading baskets to make it 45-36 with 7:09 to go, a 5-0 spurt in twenty seconds got the crowd back in the game with 6:42 to go and the score at 45-41. A Bulldog basket seemed to slow the tide, but only for a moment. The Cowboys methodically started to up the pressure and force turnovers and chip away back into the game. It was 50-43 with 5:05 to play, and a three pointer made it 50-46 at the 5:42 mark. The Bulldogs still were fighting and made it 52-46 at the 5:16 mark. A trade mark 7-0 run, sparked by defensive pressure gave the Cowboys the lead for the first time in the second half at 53-52 with 4:15 to go. Once again, the undefeated Bulldogs showed why they were the #1 seed and scored 4 straight of their own to go up 56-53 with 2:57 to play. A clutch 3 pointer by Keyshaun Langley tied the game up with 2:28 to play. Butler managed to come down and execute despite the pressure and get a basket to reclaim the lead, 58-56, right at the 2:00 mark. The Cowboys came right down the court quick as lightning and tie the ball game up at 58 just 7 seconds later. On the ensuing defensive possession for the Cowboys, Sophomore Christian Martin drew the game deciding charge. Southwest advanced the ball and then called timeout at mid court with 1:27 to play. The Cowboys didn’t execute perfectly, and turned the ball over, but tremendous transition defense once again saved the game as Southwest forced another turnover which gave them the ball back with under 20 seconds to play. A timeout was called to review the plan. The Cowboys came down the court and began to run the set, the Bulldogs took away the initial look, the secondary look, but not the third option. A perfectly executed extra pass by Keyshaun Langley found an open Cooper Cunningham for the game winning three point shot in the left corner that swished in the 1.3 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs called 2 timeouts but tremendous defense wouldn’t even allow a shot to be taken as the Cowboys hand the Butler Bulldogs their first loss on the year and send the Southwest Guilford Cowboys to the State Championship as the Western Regional Champions.

The Bulldogs were led by Jah’Lil Carter with 20 points. The Cowboys were led by Kobe Langley with (15, 3 Rebs, Stl), and Brandon Lamberth with (11, 5 Rebs, Ast). Senior Kameron Langley also played a key rolle with 8 points, 7 Rebounds, 4 Steals, and 3 Assists.

                 1st 2nd  3rd 4th Final
Butler           14  13   16  15   58
Southwest        13  12   09  27   61

Butler (30-1)
Omega Stitt 5
Zane Rankin 13
Tarique Stowe 2
Jah’Lil Carter 20
Gerrale Gates 6
DJ Little 12

Southwest (27-3)
Keyshaun Langley 6, 3 Rebs, Ast
Dezmond Woods 5, 2 Rebs, Ast, Stl
Kobe Langley 15
Christian Martin 7, 2 Rebs
Jalen Snipes Reb
Kameron Langley 8
Cooper Cunningham 9
Brandon Lamberth 11

Courtesy of SWG assistant coach Greg Vlazny