Dutch Fork Falls in OT at Lower State Boys Basketball Final
It was nearly three months ago when Dutch Fork defeated Fort Dorchester in a close Class 5A Lower State football final to reach the Class 5A title game.
Saturday night at the Florence Civic Center, it was the Patriots who outlasted the Silver Foxes in overtime 49-46 to win the Class 5A Lower State basketball title.
Senior Houston Jones scored 19 points and Antonio Williams added 10 in the loss for Dutch Fork. Fort Dorchester outscored the Silver Foxes 7-4 in overtime, all the points scored by guard Omarian Green who had a game-high 25 points.
The Silver Foxes (15-12) played the extra period without point guard Jarvis Green. He was carried off the court favoring his right knee late in the fourth quarter and did not return.
It was an uphill battle for Dutch Fork for most of the first half. They trailed 10-4 before back-to-back three-pointers by Jones and J.T. Renner tied the game at the end of the first quarter.
A 9-0 run in the second quarter sparked by Green enabled the Patriots to open a 21-12 advantage. They led 28-21 at halftime and, despite scoring just six points in the third quarter, were still up 34-28.
“We were turning the ball over right and left and just couldn’t get the ball up the court,” Dutch Fork head coach Bret Jones said. “They’re so athletic, quick and fast. They did a good job with their defense putting pressure. We knew that was a big key of the game was not to turn the ball over in the backcourt.”
A 8-0 run capped by a short jumper by Jones to open the fourth quarter put Dutch Fork ahead 36-34. Green answered with a three-pointer to regain the lead for Fort Dorchester and Jones tied the game again at 37-37 with 1-2 free throws.
A layup by Williams and two more free throws by Jones gave Dutch Fork a 41-37 lead. The Patriots answered with five straight points to take a 42-41 lead with 2:13 left.
Octavious Smith made 1-2 free throws with 1:32 left to tie the game again. It remained that way until overtime when Green opened with a three-pointer to put the Patriots up for good.
Dutch Fork’s next two possessions were a missed layup by Smith and Jones making only 1-3 free throws. Turnovers continued to plague the Silver Foxes, keepingt them from getting now closer than a point after Jones’ three-pointer with seven seconds left.
Green managed to dribble off four seconds before he was fouled and added two more free throws to his overtime total. A desperation heave from behind halfcourt hit the top portion of the backboard and Fort Dorchester ran off the court and towards their fan section in celebration.
Meanwhile, a devestatd Jones was consoled off the court by his parents and teammates in his final game at Dutch Fork. Outside the lockerroom, Jarvis Green was still in pain as his right knee was examined and wrapped in tape by the trainer to await further tests.
“I’m very proud of Houston, but I knew that this was coming as a father and a coach and it’s coming to an end,” Jones said. “It hurts, but it’s life. But, like I told him, I love him and I enjoyed the four years being able to coach him.”
Fort Dorchester (25-1) will face Ridge View in the Class 5A final Thursday at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. This will mark the first time since 2016 when the S.C. High School League created Class 5A that a head coach who did not play at Lexington High School under Bailey Harris will win the boys basketball title.
Keywords
Houston, Bret, Jones, Dutch Fork, Jarvis, Green, Fort Dorchester, basketball
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