Justin Bernard helps contain Excelsior’s Dunn to get Reserve Christian into finals

By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

LAFAYETTE — The Eagles are set to do it again.

For the fourth time in five years, Reserve Christian basketball has reached the state championship game, thanks to a 74-68 win over Excelsior Thursday. But don’t think for a second that a chance at a state title ever comes easy.

The Eagles earned their berth in this year’s state title game with a semi-finals win over the top-ranked squad in Class C, the Excelsior Christian Jaguars and standout prospect LaceDarius Dunn and his brother Davarius Dunn. LaceDarius is set to join former RCS all-star Demond &#8220Tweety” Carter at Baylor University this Fall.

Entering the game, Excelsior had lost only two of their 34 games this season, one of which came way back in early November in the Jaguars sixth game of the season.

RCS, meanwhile, had a 21-18 record on a schedule that featured some of the states top teams and out-of-state trips for several national tournaments.

But you couldn’t tell which team was favored to win by watching the game as the Eagles kept Excelsior scorers in check throughout with hustling defense while the RCS offense maintained a steady eight to twelve point lead.

That lasted until the fourth quarter when Excelsior made a push to save their playoff lives.

With less than two minutes to play, the Jaguars went on a 12-5 scoring run to make it a five point game. With a pair of free throws and a jumper by Davarius Dunn, the game came down to just one possession in a 68-70 score with :25 remaining.

But Eddren McCain opened it back up in the Eagle’s favor with ball control and Excelsior was forced to foul him. He sank both from the line, and another on the following possession, to make it a 73-68 score.

The Jaguars still stood a chance with about :15 left, but Cedric Jenkins stole the inbounds to ice the victory and sank a free throw to make it the 74-68 final.

RCS Coach Timmy Byrd noted that his team’s lone senior, Justin Bernard, had a standout defensive effort as he was assigned to cover LaceDarius Dunn and his nearly 35 points per game average.

On the offensive side, it was a freshman who inflicted the most damage on Excelsior as Jenkins posted a game-high 32 points on 13-of-21 shooting with four three pointers. McCain added 17 points to the Eagles total while Chadd Simmons got nine and Damond Peters got seven.

The win advances Reserve Christian to the finals, scheduled for March 16-18, where they will face the winner of the Athens vs. Family Christian semi-finals game. The Eagles defeated Family Christian earlier this season in a 75-62 win on November 11.

Hopefully, for Eagles fans, RCS will get off to a quick start like they did Thursday in Lafayette. After the first quarter of play, which featured nine lead changes, Reserve Christian pulled into a six point lead. The second period went more in Excelsior’s favor as they outscored RCS 14-11 to send it into halftime 33-28 with the Eagles ahead.

After the break, Reserve Christian got back on track following a three by McCain and a jumper some twenty and a jumper some twenty seconds later that made it an eight point game again.

The Eagle defense, meanwhile, shackled Excelsior, holding the Jaguars to four points through the first six and a half minutes of the quarter.

RCS got a bit complacent in the fourth quarter, as the Jaguars mounted an attempted comeback. The Eagles twelve point lead dwindled to five with just more than two minutes remaining. A technical on coach Byrd as he disputed a foul call in the final minute made it close, but his squad came back with a sense of urgency.

Jenkins made the win official with a steal with :16 to go as the Jags tried to pull to within one possession. He ended scoring with a free throw in the waning seconds.