Who'd believe the Eagles had any gas left in the tank after an emotional comeback win after trailing by 19 points in the quarterfinal round of the USCAA National Basketball Championships.
And, to add further complication to their tired legs, they had to face No. 1 seed UC Clermont without the services of their second leading scorer and First Team All-American in the lineup. Kameron Shockley went down with an ankle injury that swelled overnight and prevented him from taking the court.
Regardless of the heavy load KSU Tusc had to carry, I am sure that the Cougars had their victory chants ready to roll playing the game with the odds seemingly stacked in their favor. The Eagles however, B-E-L-I-E-V-E-D in themselves and brought their hard hats and lunch pails to the game.
They toughed it out but fell short 94-85 to UCC, and their efforts were highly commendable. In fact, their effort on this day is very telling for next season and they also left no doubt that they were still a top four team---and their physical exhaustion after the game gave testament to their beliefs and their fortitude.
They scrapped their way through eight lead changes in the first 10 minutes of the game, but UCC gained some momentum and built a couple of 12-point leads, the last 49-37, before KSU Tusc went on a mini 4-1 run to end the half trailing by just nine points (50-41).
Roll over and play dead, not on your life!
Right out of the gate in the final 20 minutes, the Cougars went up by 14 (57-43) and had their quarry on the ropes---or so they thought. The margin was 61-48 with 16:00 to play when the Eagles made their first big move of the half. They pounded the offensive glass getting a couple of muscled-in buckets from Mekhi Johnson and James Roundtree, and some ankle-breaking driving lay ups from Kyle Shockley and Javier Ward stunning Clermont while charging back to within 64-61 at the 13:04 mark.
After the Cougars built a 70-61 lead the Eagles got consecutive baskets by Vinny Roper and Shockley and trailed by just five (70-65) with 10:13 on the clock. Still plenty of time for a patented Eagles rally.
With the Eagles still in attack mode the lead fluctuated between 7-9 points, as they went glass on nearly every possession to keep pace with the Clermont. They were relentless and kept laying the groundwork for another charge even though they were tiring but still interested in getting to the championship game.
When the score was 86-78 the Eagles made their move. There was 2:11 left in their tournament existence when Shockley hit a jumper in the lane and followed that by blocking a UCC shot on the defensive end of the floor. He beat the Cougar defender to the loose ball and fired a pass to Ward who finished with a coast to coast driving lay up to slice the lead to 86-83 with 1:45 left.
A Shockley bucket at the one minute mark was trimmed the lead to 89-85, but it was the last basket KSU could muster for the season. A couple of Eagles turnovers later while forcing the ball to the rim, resuled in fouls that allowed the Cougars to wrap up a 94-85 win and advance to the finale.
Shockley was stellar, ending with a double-double, 28 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson and Ward were just as special, with the former contributing a double-double of his own by making 7-12 field goal attempts, 4-6 free throws scoring 18 points and hauling down 11 boards. Ward went off for 20 points, was 3-6 from distance and a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line.
The Golden Eagles outscored UCC in the paint 48-38, but 18 turnovers led to 24 Clermont points.
On the season KSU Tusc recorded a fine record of 22-10 and it was their second straight trip to the Final Four.
Mekhi Johnson and Kyle Shockley both recorded double-double efforts in their Final Four game to lead the Golden Eagles.
Vinny Roper avoids the block with a scoop shot and Clermont Coach Steve Ellis gives his well wishes to Kameron Shockley postgame.
James Roundtree and Kyle Shockley contest for a long rebound that was snagged by a Cougar who was fouled while falling out of bounds.
(Photos by Rob Brindley)