LEXINGTON, Ky. – Already considered one of the state’s top juniors, Taveion Hollingsworth put on a big-time show Wednesday in his state tournament debut.
The 6-foot-2 guard scored 32 points – including 23 in the second half – to lead the Paul Dunbar High School boys basketball team to a 58-55 victory over Mercer County in the first round of the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16 in front of 11,866 fans at Rupp Arena.
“We know he’s a closer, a finisher, a clutch player,” Bulldogs coach Scott Chalk said. “He has a calm personality, and it doesn’t seem to bother him. No matter what stage we’re on, he makes the big plays at the end.”
Hollingsworth hit 12 of 24 shots and added three rebounds and three assists as Paul Dunbar (30-6) – No. 1 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings – advanced to face Bowling Green in Friday’s 1:30 p.m. quarterfinal.
Will Hager posted 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists to lead No. 3 Mercer County (33-2), which shot 52.6 percent but couldn’t overcome four turnovers on its final six possessions in the closing 1:24.
“We had some opportunities to win the basketball game, and the ball just didn’t fall are way,” Titans coach Josh Cook said.
Hollingsworth’s step-back jumper gave Paul Dunbar the lead for good, 50-48, with 3:45 remaining.
The Titans pulled within one point on three occasions, the last coming on two free throws by Dylan James that made it 56-55 with 17.4 seconds left.
Hollingsworth then missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Mercer County used its final timeout with 10.1 seconds left. But the Titans couldn’t get off a shot, committing a turnover with 5.6 seconds left.
Hollingsworth sank a pair of free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining for a 58-55 lead, and Dontell Brown stole the Mercer County inbounds pass to seal the Bulldogs’ victory.
Cook called Hollingsworth “one of the best in the state.”
“I think we tried just about everything we possibly could,” Cook said. “He’s a pretty nice player. … Our guys were doing the best they could to try to help on penetration, but he made some tough shots and got to the free-throw line as well.”
The Bulldogs survived despite getting a combined five points from their other two guards – Jordan Lewis (three points) and Darius Williams (two points).
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
MERCER COUNTY 9 11 19 16 – 55
PAUL DUNBAR 15 8 12 23 – 58
Mercer County (33-2) – James 8, Faulkner 16, Hager 22, Mink 6, Souder 3.
Paul Dunbar (30-6) – Kelley 9, Williams 2, Brown 4, Lewis 3, Hollingsworth 32, Brown 8.
3-point goals – James 2, Souder; Kelley, Hollingsworth 2, Brown 2.