With just two seniors on his roster, Fern Creek High School boys basketball coach James Schooler says his team has to rely on toughness and communication to make up for its inexperience.
“That’s been the story of our season,” Schooler said. “Are we going to grind games out and be tough?”
Schooler said his Tigers took a step in the right direction Tuesday.
Despite shooting just 30.4 percent and also struggling from the free-throw line, Fern Creek found a way to force overtime and then scored the final nine points to beat Central 52-44 in the second round of the Republic Bank Louisville Invitational Tournament at Valley High School.
GALLERY | Central-Fern Creek boys basketball
“They showed me toughness and communication,” Schooler said. “In practice we’ve really been emphasizing that communication will get you through any problems. … They have to be able to give us that, and tonight they did.”
Tony Washington scored 19 points and Anthony Wales added 11 as the Tigers (10-6) – No. 10 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings – advanced to face the winner of Wednesday’s Ballard-Waggener game in Friday’s 7 p.m. quarterfinal.
Fern Creek hit just 3 of 17 3-point attempts (17.6 percent) and 15 of 28 free throws (53.6 percent), but won the rebounding battle 42-33 and outscored Central 15-5 in second-chance points.
Dai’Von Thompson posted 17 points and seven rebounds to lead No. 12 Central (7-6). After taking a 22-11 lead late in the first quarter, the Yellowjackets managed just 22 points the rest of the game and shot just 36.4 percent (16 of 44).
Derron Douglas added 10 points for Central, which continued to play without top scorer Brandon Wells (concussion) and recently ruled junior reserve forward O’Neal Swint ineligible for the rest of the season.
Yellowjackets coach Doug Bibby said his team continued to show a lack of a killer instinct.
“If we win, great; if we lose, great,” he said. “I have to figure out a way to get these guys playing with a competitive edge.”
Thompson scored 11 points as Central took a 22-11 lead with 1:11 left in the first quarter, but he went out with two fouls in the second quarter and the Yellowjackets struggled to score. Wales’ layup completed an 18-6 run that gave the Tigers a 29-28 halftime lead.
Wales’ runner in the lane gave Fern Creek a 41-40 lead with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but Thompson hit 1 of 2 free throws with 6.3 seconds remaining to force overtime.
Thompson fouled out with 3:35 left in overtime, and Fern Creek took advantage. Washington’s basket gave the Tigers the lead for good, 45-44, with 2:24 left. His 3-point play with 46.1 seconds remaining made it 50-44.
“As a senior, you expect that,” Washington said. “You have to step up every time you’re on the court. You’re a leader. You’re supposed to lead your team to get the win.”
Central hit just 1 of 7 shots in overtime, including 0 of 5 from 3-point range.
“We didn’t lose that game tonight,” Bibby said. “We lost that game all during practice during the week. … These are some talented kids. But at the end of the day, if you don’t have the drive and the work ethic – not on game nights but on off nights – it’s going to be tough to be successful.”
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
| Central | 22 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 3 | — | 44 |
| Fern Creek | 13 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 11 | — | 52 |
Central (7-6): Stephens 2, Firman 4, Douglas 10, Thompson 17, Davis 4, Southern 4, Gaines 3.
Fern Creek (10-6): Stanton 2, Wales 11, Price 5, Jones 2, Wickliffe 9, Hawkins 2, Washington 19, Rogers 2.
3-point goals: Douglas 2, Thompson, Gaines; Wickliffe, Washington 2.