In the third game today, local powerhouse Garner took on the host school in Broughton. This game was a consolation matchup in the Devonte Graham bracket, where the winner would face Southern Durham in the 5th place game and the loser would face Holly Springs in the 7th place game.
The game started off quick, with Broughton jumping out to an 11-4 lead after just 3 minutes. Garner was able to cut into the early deficit by applying full-court pressure and speeding up the Caps. They forced a few turnovers, scored some easy transition baskets, and managed to tie the game before the end of the quarter. The first period ended 21-21, Broughton hit 5 threes. Garner continued the aggressive pressure in the second and both offenses cooled off. The teams went back and forth with Broughton holding a slight advantage throughout the period. Garner struggled to keep up with Broughton’s outside shooting, but made up for it with strong drives and a very efficient transition attack. A Cooper Warwick reverse layup gave Broughton a 37-35 edge going into the half. The Caps shot 9/13 from deep. McCallum Wright led all scorers with 11 points. Garner’s Tanner Mikulecky and Chris Crudup scored 10 a piece.
The third quarter saw both teams scrapping for points. Hayes Carlin hit his fourth 3 halfway through the quarter, the shot breaking a tie and giving the Caps a 44-41 advantage. As the quarter went on, Broughton was able to sustain a consistent five-to-seven-point lead over the Trojans. Garner finished the quarter on a 9-0 run thanks to a 3 by Tayshaun Whitner and two 3s by Chris Crudup. That run gave them a 52-50 lead going into the fourth. Both defenses held strong in the final eight minutes, with just six total points being scored in the first five minutes of the quarter. McCallum Wright broke the stalemate with another three, followed by a Kingston Beale layup on the other end, followed by a Manning Lasso and-1. When Chris Crudup hit a three with 1:50 left to play, there had been four straight scoring possessions and Garner led 60-59. Tayshaun Whitner hit a dagger three on the next Trojan possession and Broughton had to play the foul game. Harrison Savery hit two midrange pull-ups in an attempt to comeback, but Garner ultimately held on to win, with a score of 68-63.
Garner
Chris Crudup: 26p, 9r, 3s, 2b
Tanner Mikulecky: 13p, 9r, 2a
Tayshaun Whitner: 13p, 2s
Broughton
McCallum Wright: 18p, 4r, 2a
Hayes Carlin: 14p, 2r, 3a
Manning Lasso: 11p, 2r, 2a