MONTICELLO – Thrilling! That’s the term that was used todescribe Friday night’s opening South State 4A Boys Tournamentsemifinal between the highly explosive Lawrence County Cougars andthe underrated South Jones Braves.

The Braves’ offensive attack overpowered the Cougars 74-60 inovertime, behind 11 three pointers by Rashun Walters.

In the second game the Tigers of Crystal Springs continued theirCinderella season, with a 64-60 come from behind victory overVancleave.

The Cougars (21-6) began the game on shaky ground, missingnumerous treys and layups but still managed to lead 16-12 after oneframe of action.

After several fast break attempts by the Cougars in the secondquarter, the Cougars gained an 30-24 advantage going into thehalftime locker room.

In the second half, Walters began his mastery in selecting spotsaround the arc to blast the Cougars with multiple three pointersand a 48-47 deficit. In the fourth quarter the Cougars went twotheir senior pair of guards Nic Mikell and Darius Starks for quickand lethal answers to the South Jones rally.

The Cougars would continue their dominance, leading 58-53 withtwo minutes left in the game. The Braves then hit the good luckticket with 1:51 left when Cougar senior standout Tim Horton fouledout. The Braves (22-10) kept within two points of the Cougars untilthe final six seconds, when Cougar senior guard/forward SteveAtterberry connected on a free throw to push the Cougars lead tothree, 60-57.

Walters would run down the court and spot up from 26 feet outand connect on the huge three pointer with three second left to go.The Cougars tried a long desperation shot by Starks, but nothingwas found as the Braves and Cougars entered an extra frame tied at60.

In the extra period the Cougars’ offense fell apart as Walterscontinued his sharp shooting to lead the Braves’ victorycelebration as the final horn sounded.

“We played ball tonight,” said South Jones head coach CaseyPrice. “Everybody thought we were this roody poo kind of team thatcouldn’t take the heat in playing the host team. We made astatement tonight, that we deserve to be in the big house.”

Leading the Braves was Walters with 39 points on 12 for 14shooting. His younger brother, Thaddaus Walters, pitched in with 13rebounds on 11 points and four assists.

South Jones 6-7 senior center Lafayette Nelson finished with 10points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.

For the Cougars, Starks had 14 points on three rebounds and twosteals. Horton and Mikell accounted for 11 points and four reboundseach.

Crystal Springs 64, Vancleave 60

The Crystal Springs Tigers (19-14) began the game a step slow,due to Vancleave’s massive offensive attack that resulted into a22-9 first quarter edge.

In the second frame the Bulldogs (22-9) and the Tigers kept pacewith one another by scoring numerous fast break layups for the28-23 Bulldog halftime lead.

After a short halftime, the Bulldogs started an air show on theTigers as Bulldog junior Justin Turner opened the standing roomonly crowd’s eyes with a rim rocking off the rim dunk over threeCrystal Springs players. That momentum carried the Bulldogs to aoverwhelming 48-39 third quarter lead.

As the fourth quarter began the Bulldogs looked to be in primeposition in claiming a spot in Class 4A state tournament in Jacksonnext week. But the Tigers roared back with a vengeance behind theinspired play from guards Edward Frazier and Jason Osborne. TheTigers got their first lead of the night at 54-53 with 2:05left.

Bulldog coach Marty Nolitt couldn’t stand to see his teamtrailing the Tigers so he inserted his five starters to halt theTiger attack. At first Nolitt’s decision looked smart as seniorpower forward Ricky Cunningham stole the inbounds pass from Frazierand seemed to be in dunking in a momentum turning dunk for theBulldogs.

Instead Cunningham missed the high percentage shot and Tigerforward Tim May ran down the court with an eye opening dunk of hisown, for the 56-53 lead.

“We never gave up,” said Tiger coach Lee Payton. “We keptpounding them (Vancleave) and finally they gave in.”

For Vancleave the loss was their first in the last 12 games.

“We flat out blew it,” said Nolitt. “We couldn’t stop theirguards from taking over the game in the second half. Our guys justgave it to them in the fourth quarter.”

For the Dawgs, Turner and Cunningham led with 15 apiece.Sophomore shooting guard Vince Alford finished with 13 points onthree steals and two rebounds.

For the Tigers, Jessie Taylor led with 15 points and six boards.Osborne finished with 11 points on two rebounds and twoassists.