Curtis Baptist Rallies To Defeat River Pointe 63-57 To Earn SCISA Class A Boys’ Basketball Championship

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Sumter — Down 9 at the half, to first year SCISA Class A boys’ team River Pointe, Curtis Baptist (29-1) head coach David Salley made some key half-time adjustments that help lead his team to a come-from-behind, 62-57 win in the state title game at the Sumter Civic Center on February, 24.

Coach Salley had his Crusaders team, from Augusta, Ga.,  cover the high post much better on defense in the second half, and Curtis Baptist rebounded better,  resulting in more second chance shots on offense. Another key to the win was the play of freshman guard Ty Shine, who put his team on his shoulders in the final period that began with Curtis Baptist rallying for a 43-42 lead at the end of the third period, out-scoring River Pointe 20-10.

After the game, Coach Salley shared his thoughts about the big win with the HSSR, “It feels great to win today and we felt like we played under the radar all season, and we didn’t get the respect we felt we deserved, so this win is very gratifying,” said Coach Salley.  “These kids came out all year long and put their heart on the floor. I just love these kids.”

Coach Salley had special thoughts for Shine, who clearly has a bright future in the game. “He has been playing great all year and he is the head of us. He played his heart out today on both sides of the ball. He started as an 8^th grader, and he has already scored 1,000 career points. The way he goes is how we go.” 

Curtis Baptist started two freshmen (Shine and Braydan Husband) , two 8^th graders (Trevan Wright an Wiltrez Mincey) and one senior (Chas Beasley). “We expect to be right back here next year and our future looks very good.”

Shine, came into the game averaging 19.3 points, 3.6 assists and 2.9 steals a game. “It feels great to have helped my team win a state championship, and it has been since 2013-14 that we won our last title,” said Shine. “I have been playing basketball since I was five years old. The game is a huge part of my life. I still have a lot of work to do. My goal is to keep working hard, to keep being a good teammate, and to to help my team win again next season.”     

Shine finished with 24 points to lead all scorers in the game. With the Crusaders clinging to a 51-49 lead, with 3:57 left, Shine had three consecutive steals, that he converted into seven points, to give his team a 58-51 lead with 2:50 left. His first steal resulted in a lay-up, and after he was fouled on the play, he made the free throw. Shine’s stellar plays on defense helped seal the fate of River Pointe and bring Curtis Baptist a state title.  

River Pointe led only 15-14 after the first period, but they went on a 17-9 run in the second period taking advantage of their height advantage. After CB took their first lead of the game (21-19), when Shine made two free throws with 5:51 left in the first half, then extended it to 23-19 on Chas Beasley’s inside basket,  the Wolves responded with a 13-0 run over the final 4:53 of the first half.

The Wolves got back-to-back three pointers from freshmen bench players Alante Manigo and Jamerius Dukes to regain the lead at 25-23 with 4:08 left. Then Kevin Dukes scored on a lay-up, Manigo scored on the inside, and after Reginald Grant made one free throw Terry Truesdale closed out the first half scoring for both teams with a inside basket to give his team a 32-23 lead at the break.

The Wolves rallied in the second half behind Shine to win the game. Other top scorers for the Crusaders included senior Chas Beasley with 17 points, 8^th grader Wiltrez Mincey had 9 points, followed by 8^th grader Trevam Wright with seven points, and freshman Braydon Husbard had three points.

River Pointe was led in scoring by Kevin Dukes with 21 points and Terry Truesdale had 16 points along with Jamerius Dukes adding seven points. Alante Manigo had five points and  Kymani Robinson chipped in with three points.  

River Pointe, located in North Charleston, finished 21-8 in their first season of competition. Head coach Ivan Jenkinson told the HSSR after the game, “After half-time we decided to come out and give them a different look defensively,” said Coach Jenkinson. “We were not rotating quick enough so we got out of zone and went back to man-to-man. We tried to apply pressure. They just found a way to out-score us in the second half.”

Coach Jenkinson said his team started two juniors  and three freshmen in the game and that there are no seniors on the River Pointe roster. “We are super proud of our team competing for a championship in our first season of competition,” said Coach Jenkinson. “Our goal is to work hard in the off-season. Not having a gym to practice in for 75 per cent of the season was a challenge. This upcoming season we should be even more prepared to compete for a state title.”