Crestwood rallies from 10-point deficit to beat Wilson 63-55

Sumter – The Wilson High School boys basketball team was sitting pretty early in the third quarter of its game against Crestwood on Friday at The Castle. The Tigers jumped out to a 37-27 in the first three minutes of the second half and appeared to be taking control of the game.

However, a 3-point basket by Xzaier Johnson coming out of a timeout got the Knights back in the game. Though it was a slow process, they rallied for a 63-55 victory.

Though not particularly happy with how his team played, head coach Aric Samuel was pleased to now be 17-2 on the season and undefeated in Region 5-AAAA at 7-0.

“To win a game like that and get to go back to practice and just fix those problems, that’s a blessing,” Samuel said. “Zay (Johnson) hit that big shot, we picked up that tempo one more time, and the fans came alive it was just a beautiful night here at Crestwood.”

Ons that put Crestwood, ranked fourth in the latest South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association AAAA poll, in great position to win the region title. Though they have five region games left, the Knights are two games up on both Wilson and South Florence at 5-2. CHS has beaten the Tigers twice and owns one win over SFHS.

“We’re in a sweet spot right now,” Samuel said.

That wasn’t the case early in the second half. WHS, ranked seventh in the state and now with a 13-8 overall record, led 31-25 at intermission. It pushed the advantage to 10 with 5:27 left in the third quarter.

Crestwood made a run, pulling within 41-38 with 1:52 left in the third quarter. Wilson responded with six straight points on two free throws from Tristan Thompson and two more free throws and a reverse layup rom Josh Leonard, both of whom were selected as Elite Boys players regardless of classification by SCBCA. to make it 47-38 with just over a minute remaining.

Crestwood cut the lead to 47-41 on a layup by 6-foot-8-inch Teon Tindal, rated as one of the top five seniors in AAAA along with teammate Shannon Davis, with one second left. Those were his first points sof the game but wouldn’t be his last.

Wislon head coach Yusef English said Crestwood forced its will upon his squad in the second half.

“They caused us to play out of character,” English said. “They did what they wanted to do. They played hard and physical without losing their heads and they cause you to lose yours.

“When you’re on the road, you have to be perfect, you can’t have anything deter you. We got a little overemotional – that’s the right word – out there. Whether highs or lows, we allowed the emotion of the game to affect us.”

When Thompson picked up his second technical foul of the game for hanging on the rim, he was ejected. Three other Tigers would foul out asCHS outscored them 22-8 in the fourth quarter.

Tindal had six points in the final stanza to finish with eight. Johnson had seven in the fourth quarter and Ja Jones had five. CHS took the lead for good at 52-51 on a jump hook in the lane by Tindal with 5:14 remaining.

Samuel said the Knights have to do a better job of getting the ball in Tindal’s hands.

“When they got smaller we would have been foolish not to get the ball to the post,” he said. “We have to fight these guards to get the ball to the post. When they’re open, they’ll say, ‘That’s a good shot.’ The further away from the basket, the lower the percentage of the shot.

“If we get it into Teon, we’ve got a chance to make a run (in the postseason). We’ve got to work with Teon on getting post position without a play. It can’t be obvious. And they’ve (the guards) got to get it to him.”

Davis led the Knights with 20 points, 12 coming in the first half and six more in the third quarter.  Jones and Riley Durant both finished with seven.

Leonard finished with a game high 25 points to lead the Tigers. Thompson had 15 and Cam Muldrow had six on two 3s.

While winning a region title is now a long shot, English thinks this can help  the Tigers in the postseason.

“You go out now and try to win a state championship,” English said. "You have a turning point in every season. We had a lot of young guys who hadn’t beein that situation before outside of Tristan and Josh.

“I think what last night did for us is it will be a benefit down the road. It definitely pushes us forward instead of pushing us back.”

Wilson plays host to Lower Richland on Tuesday before traveling to city rival South Lorence on Friday. Crestwood is on the road for the next three games – at Hartsville on Tuesday, at Sumter School District rival Lakewood on Friday and at South Lorence on February 11.

WILSON (55)

Rashawn Woodberry 2, Tristan Thompson 15, Khristian Bruce 2, Cam Muldrow 6, Elijah Smith 5, Josh Leonard 25.

CRESTWOOD (63)

```````Shannon Davis 2-, Xzavier johnson 16, Riley Durant 7, Jaden Shaw 3, Teon Tindal 8, Ja Jones 7, Jeremie Richardson 2.