Class AAAAA: Red Elephants fall in heartbreaker to McIntosh

HELL OF A GAME LAST NIGHT

PEACHTREE CITY — It was a game for the ages. It’s sure to be talked about for years to come.

However, it will probably be remembered more for the controversial ending than the artistry both Gainesville and McIntosh displayed Saturday night in the second round of the Class AAAAA playoffs.

The Chiefs’ Chase Walter converted a three-point play with 1.1 seconds left to send McIntosh into next week’s quarterfinals with an 87-84 victory over the Red Elephants at the McIntosh gym.

Walter’s basket actually went through with just over four seconds left but the officials did not stop the clock. After a several minute delay to discuss it, they also did not reset it.

Gainesville was able to get a long inbound heave by Farris Mance to Messiah Dorsey at halfcourt but Dorsey’s desperation 3-pointer to tie the game at the buzzer fell well short.

A dejected Gainesville coach Benjie Wood had nothing but praise for his group.

“There should have been 3 ½ seconds left, but there wasn’t and it is what it is,” he said. “But our kids fought the entire game. I’m proud of them. It was a great effort.”

Gainesville looked poised to advance to its first Elite 8 since 2013 when Michael White gave the Red Elephants an 82-81 lead with 1:08 left on a long NBA-range 3-pointer. But the Gainesville defense, which had had few breakdowns on the night, wore down in the final seconds.

Twice Will Washington broke down the Red Elephants defense, first for a driving layup to reclaim the lead and then on a dish to Dishon Lowery, who hit 1-of-2 free throws to push the lead to 84-82 with 36 seconds left.

Gainesville tied the game moments later on a D’Marcus Simonds driving layup setting up the final sequence. The Red Elephants almost stole the ball twice but eventually knocked the ball out of bounds and the Chiefs got the ball under the Gainesville basket with 8.1 seconds left.

Lowery found Walter all alone underneath for a dunk and then Walter hit the free throw forn the final points.

“We played pretty well all night on defense but we had one miss-communication and that was big,” Wood said. “But that’s basketball. It was a heck of a game. That was what high school basketball is all about.”

The Red Elephants (21-6) came out firing in the first quarter opening up a 19-7 lead on five consecutive points by Messiah Dorsey with a minute left in the period. The Chiefs used a 10-3 run into the second quarter to pull within 22-18 but Gainesville answered that with a 10-4 spurt to push the lead back to 32-22 midway through the second.

Xavier Bledson provided a big spark off the bench with a 3-pointer and two beautiful assists, the last coming on a Bailey Minor basket for a 43-31 lead, the Red Elephants biggest of the game, with 1:43 left in the half. The Chiefs answered back again pulling to within 46-37 by halftime.

The second half turned into a duel between Simonds and Washington that saw each carry their team down the stretch. Washington had 18 of his 31 points after halftime, including a 7-point run to held McIntosh turn a 56-51 deficit into a 63-58 lead late in the third quarter.

Simonds, who finished with 34 points in his final game, poured in 23 in the second half, including 13 in the fourth quarter, the biggest coming on a fastbreak dunk off a McIntosh turnover for a 77-76 lead with 2:50 left and then his final points to tie the game.

The smaller Red Elephants hung tough with McIntosh on the boards pulling down 24 to the Chiefs’ 28. They forced 14 turnovers but finished with 15, 11 of those coming in the second half.

K.J. Buffen, Tae Turner, and Harry Oliver each finished with eight points for Gainesville. Oliver had all eight of his in the first quarter to help the Red Elephants jump out to the early lead. Buffen finished with seven rebounds, two blocks, and two assists.

Jordan Lyons had 24 points for McIntosh. Lowery added 13 to go with nine rebounds and Isaac Kellum had 12 for the Chiefs.

The Chiefs next will play Riverwood, who was a 48-47 winner over Statesboro in their quarterfinal matchup, in the semifinals at Columbus State.

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