Rudder boys don't go down easy

[AggiesAreWe]

Rudder boys don't go down easy in playoff debut

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Published Friday, February 26, 2010 12:00 AM

By RICHARD CROOME
[email protected]

THE WOODLANDS -- Rudder's introduction to the UIL playoffs was short, but it didn't lack for excitement.

Fourth-ranked Silsbee overcame an early Ranger lead then hung on for dear life to fend off the breakneck style of Rudder for a 62-61 victory in the Class 3A area playoffs Thursday at College Park High School.

The District 21-3A champion Tigers advance to play West Orange-Stark in the Region III quarterfinals. After making the playoffs in just its second year, the Rangers finish the season at 21-8.

"I couldn't be more proud of them," Rudder head coach Chris Jones said of his Rangers. "They fought to the very end. Silsbee is the best, most gifted team we have faced all year."

After trailing by as many as 15 points late in the third quarter, the Rangers picked up an already torrid pace to chip away at Silsbee's lead.

Reginal Lawson hit a long 3 to pull the Rangers within 56-49 with a little over 3 minutes left. During the possession the Tigers also lost their point guard and leading rebounder D.C. Stallworth, who fell to the sideline with cramps in both calves. Silsbee played only eight players.

Rudder's Semaj McGruder cut Silsbee's lead to five on a fastbreak layup, and after a free throw by Silsbee's Prentice Lane, Dominique Robison drove for another basked to cut the lead to 57-53 with 1:08 left.

Lane made perhaps the play of the game with a steal and a basket, but Marquis Taylor kept Rudder's chances alive with a 3 at the 0:36 mark.

After a timeout, the Rangers fouled 6-foot-7 Kendrick Jones, who made the second of two free throws.

Taylor pulled the Rangers within two on a follow of a Michael Jones miss.

Rudder then used its last timeout and was forced to foul with 8 seconds left after Michael Jones came within inches of stealing the inbound pass.

Silsbee had hit just 8 of 32 free throws at the time, but Kelton Gaines hit both to give Silsbee a 62-58 lead. Robison hit a 3 at the buzzer for the final points.

Trailing 39-30 at halftime, the Rangers missed a big opportunity to get back in it in the third quarter. The Rangers caused six turnovers in the first 5 minutes of the period but couldn't take advantage at the other end, missing their first six free throws and going 1 of 9 from the field to open the second half.

"We just didn't get a shot to go," Chris Jones said. "Shots we normally make we just couldn't make tonight. "It happens to you, and unfortunately it happened tonight. They are a very good team and you have to make shots against a good team."

Rudder was led Robison with 14 points. Taylor and McGruder each added 13. Taylor was hampered in the second quarter with two quick fouls.

Lane paced the Tigers with 14, while Hill made 13, despite going 3 of 10 from the line, and Kendrick Jones and Stallworth each had 12. Hill had two big buckets late in the first half, going all the way after steals on consecutive Rudder possessions. He also had a three-point play to give Silsbee its first lead at 21-19 since the opening minute. Hill's baskets helped the Tigers to a 27-11 difference in the second quarter.

"We had to rotate out [on the press] and burned a little bit more of our gas than we are used to burning and it played a big part in the second quarter," Jones said. "We really hadn't played a team with as many good players as they have and defensively we like to scramble and trap a lot and its tough to do when they have so many good players to come at you with. It was tough on us so we had to buckle down and play some good half-court defense and I think we did."

The Rangers' pace out of the gate appeared to bewilder Silsbee. The Rangers caused nine first-quarter turnovers and led 19-12 at the end of the first eight minutes. The Rangers scored the last seven points of the quarter, two on free throws by Robison, two on an easy bucket by McGruder off a feed from Jones, and then a free throw by Jamie Anderson and a bucket at the end by Anderson.

"We were able to keep the game uptempo early and then we had a stretch where we just couldn't make shots and we couldn't get into our press," Jones said.

Coach added he hopes the Rangers, a team of with no seniors, will take a lot of things from their first experience in the postseason.

"You can't ask for anything better than this playoff atmosphere," Jones said. "We drew one of the top teams in the state and you go out and compete and see what you're made. We definitely left it all out there and I'm proud of the kids. Silsbee is top notch and has the makeup to win it all. But we proved tonight that we're pretty darn good ourselves."

Silsbee 62, Rudder 61

RUDDER (21-8) -- Trent Mitchell 0 0 0-2 0; Semaj McGruder 5 1 0-2 13; Michael Jones 3 0 0-0 6; Dominique Robison 3 1 5-9 14; Marquis Taylor 6 1 0-0 15; Jamarcus Davenport 0 1 0-0 3; Skylar Wells 0 0 0-0 0; Reginal Lawson 2 1 0-0 7; Jamie Anderson 1 0 1-2 3; Demarshon Wilson 1 0 0-2 2. Totals 20 5 6-17 61

SILSBEE (28-2) -- Pheal Hill 5 0 3-10 13; Kendrick Jones 5 0 2-9 12; Prentice Lane 6 0 2-6 14; D.C. Stallworth 4 0 2-5 10; Avery Thomas 0 0 1-2 1; Kelton Gaines 2 1 2-2 9; Ronald Barrett 0 1 0-0 3. Totals 23 2 12-34 62

Rudder19 11 10 21 61

Silsbee12 27 10 13 62

Total Fouls: Rudder 24; Silsbee 18. Fouled out: Rudder's Lawson.

[BLUEDOVE3]

Cramps? LOL! Makes me think Silsbee has not run against a team this year. Need to get in better shape.

[AggiesAreWe]

One player experiencing cramps late in the game does not represent the whole team as in what kind of shape they are in. ::)

Blue always the hater.

[FanintheStands]

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="766979" timestamp="1267189078"]
Cramps? LOL! Makes me think Silsbee has not run against a team this year. Need to get in better shape.
[/quote]You have GOT to be kidding..................

[BLUEDOVE3]

Yep, I'm going to have to put Silsbee on my [color=red]hater list [/color] along with HJ and Ozen. But it's all good because teams that make my list are successful teams and I'm a little jealous towards your programs ;)

[aTmfan06]

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="767004" timestamp="1267194609"]
Yep, I'm going to have to put Silsbee on my [color=red]hater list [/color] along with HJ and Ozen. But it's all good because teams that make my list are successful teams and I'm a little jealous towards your programs ;)
[/quote]

YAY so Kountze isnt on that list ;D ;D

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="utfan06" post="767036" timestamp="1267199031"]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=66579.msg767004#msg767004 date=1267194609]
Yep, I'm going to have to put Silsbee on my [color=red]hater list [/color] along with HJ and Ozen. But it's all good because teams that make my list are successful teams and I'm a little jealous towards your programs ;)
[/quote]

YAY so Kountze isnt on that list ;D ;D
[/quote]They are inching closer! Especially if they beat HF @ Little Dribblers again for Senior Division Championship.

[HoopInsider_Cooper]

[font=Courier]Oh man...I was hoping to read his take on his "we will win by 15" comment.[/font]

[20]

A comment that was never made.  I think some of you must have this coach confused with someone else.