CARTHAGE — Basketball is often a game of runs and Leake Central waited until the end to go on a major one.
The Gators used a big fourth quarter to get past Caledonia, 77-53, in the second round of the MHSAA Class 4A Boys Basketball playoffs on Saturday afternoon.
The Gators (23-7) will face Itawamba AHS on Friday night in the Quarterfinal Round of the Class 4A playoffs at Itawamba Community College.
“Our guys came together down the stretch and executed in the fourth quarter and that’s what helped us. We’ve been working on that all year,” said Leake Central coach Delvin Thompson. “Defensively we were able to play our gaps once we went to man-to-man defense and started getting turnovers and capitalizing on the other end.”
Caledonia jumped out to a 12-6 lead to begin the game, but Leake Central ended the quarter on a 13-0 run to take a 19-12 lead.
In the second quarter the Cavaliers were able to keep chipping into the Leake Central lead, but the Gators held a 32-30 lead at halftime.
The third quarter saw each team trading baskets with the Gators holding a slim 44-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The final frame is when Leake Central began to separate themselves as the Gators went on a 18-4 run to stretch their lead out to 62-45 with 3:42 left in the fourth quarter and sealed the game.
Jermichael Stewart had a game-high 26 points to lead Leake Central, while Ty’lan Fortune added 23 points for the Gators.
“Those two guys stepped up big time for us in the fourth quarter with some big baskets and made some big plays,” Thompson said. “We got to get ready to play Itawamba and it’s basically a home game for them and they’re a big, physical team, so we come ready to roll.”
Chris Blevins had 17 points to lead Caledonia, while Ethan Halbert added 10 points for the Cavaliers (19-9).
“Our kids played hard and executed the game plan for three and a half quarters,” said Caledonia coach Jonathan Comer. “When they made us come out of our zone and go man they pretty much were able to get baskets offensively. We got a young group and reached the second round of playoffs, so we will build on this and get ready for next year.”
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