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Rudder boys don't go down easy in playoff debut E-mail to a friend Printer friendly version Published Friday, February 26, 2010 12:00 AM By RICHARD CROOME [email protected] THE WOODLANDS -- Rudder's introduction to the UIL playoffs was short, but it didn't lack for excitement. Fourth-ranked Silsbee overcame an early Ranger lead then hung on for dear life to fend off the breakneck style of Rudder for a 62-61 victory in the Class 3A area playoffs Thursday at College Park High School. The District 21-3A champion Tigers advance to play West Orange-Stark in the Region III quarterfinals. After making the playoffs in just its second year, the Rangers finish the season at 21-8. "I couldn't be more proud of them," Rudder head coach Chris Jones said of his Rangers. "They fought to the very end. Silsbee is the best, most gifted team we have faced all year." After trailing by as many as 15 points late in the third quarter, the Rangers picked up an already torrid pace to chip away at Silsbee's lead. Reginal Lawson hit a long 3 to pull the Rangers within 56-49 with a little over 3 minutes left. During the possession the Tigers also lost their point guard and leading rebounder D.C. Stallworth, who fell to the sideline with cramps in both calves. Silsbee played only eight players. Rudder's Semaj McGruder cut Silsbee's lead to five on a fastbreak layup, and after a free throw by Silsbee's Prentice Lane, Dominique Robison drove for another basked to cut the lead to 57-53 with 1:08 left. Lane made perhaps the play of the game with a steal and a basket, but Marquis Taylor kept Rudder's chances alive with a 3 at the 0:36 mark. After a timeout, the Rangers fouled 6-foot-7 Kendrick Jones, who made the second of two free throws. Taylor pulled the Rangers within two on a follow of a Michael Jones miss. Rudder then used its last timeout and was forced to foul with 8 seconds left after Michael Jones came within inches of stealing the inbound pass. Silsbee had hit just 8 of 32 free throws at the time, but Kelton Gaines hit both to give Silsbee a 62-58 lead. Robison hit a 3 at the buzzer for the final points. Trailing 39-30 at halftime, the Rangers missed a big opportunity to get back in it in the third quarter. The Rangers caused six turnovers in the first 5 minutes of the period but couldn't take advantage at the other end, missing their first six free throws and going 1 of 9 from the field to open the second half. "We just didn't get a shot to go," Chris Jones said. "Shots we normally make we just couldn't make tonight. "It happens to you, and unfortunately it happened tonight. They are a very good team and you have to make shots against a good team." Rudder was led Robison with 14 points. Taylor and McGruder each added 13. Taylor was hampered in the second quarter with two quick fouls. Lane paced the Tigers with 14, while Hill made 13, despite going 3 of 10 from the line, and Kendrick Jones and Stallworth each had 12. Hill had two big buckets late in the first half, going all the way after steals on consecutive Rudder possessions. He also had a three-point play to give Silsbee its first lead at 21-19 since the opening minute. Hill's baskets helped the Tigers to a 27-11 difference in the second quarter. "We had to rotate out [on the press] and burned a little bit more of our gas than we are used to burning and it played a big part in the second quarter," Jones said. "We really hadn't played a team with as many good players as they have and defensively we like to scramble and trap a lot and its tough to do when they have so many good players to come at you with. It was tough on us so we had to buckle down and play some good half-court defense and I think we did." The Rangers' pace out of the gate appeared to bewilder Silsbee. The Rangers caused nine first-quarter turnovers and led 19-12 at the end of the first eight minutes. The Rangers scored the last seven points of the quarter, two on free throws by Robison, two on an easy bucket by McGruder off a feed from Jones, and then a free throw by Jamie Anderson and a bucket at the end by Anderson. "We were able to keep the game uptempo early and then we had a stretch where we just couldn't make shots and we couldn't get into our press," Jones said. Coach added he hopes the Rangers, a team of with no seniors, will take a lot of things from their first experience in the postseason. "You can't ask for anything better than this playoff atmosphere," Jones said. "We drew one of the top teams in the state and you go out and compete and see what you're made. We definitely left it all out there and I'm proud of the kids. Silsbee is top notch and has the makeup to win it all. But we proved tonight that we're pretty darn good ourselves." Silsbee 62, Rudder 61 RUDDER (21-8) -- Trent Mitchell 0 0 0-2 0; Semaj McGruder 5 1 0-2 13; Michael Jones 3 0 0-0 6; Dominique Robison 3 1 5-9 14; Marquis Taylor 6 1 0-0 15; Jamarcus Davenport 0 1 0-0 3; Skylar Wells 0 0 0-0 0; Reginal Lawson 2 1 0-0 7; Jamie Anderson 1 0 1-2 3; Demarshon Wilson 1 0 0-2 2. Totals 20 5 6-17 61 SILSBEE (28-2) -- Pheal Hill 5 0 3-10 13; Kendrick Jones 5 0 2-9 12; Prentice Lane 6 0 2-6 14; D.C. Stallworth 4 0 2-5 10; Avery Thomas 0 0 1-2 1; Kelton Gaines 2 1 2-2 9; Ronald Barrett 0 1 0-0 3. Totals 23 2 12-34 62 Rudder19 11 10 21 61 Silsbee12 27 10 13 62 Total Fouls: Rudder 24; Silsbee 18. Fouled out: Rudder's Lawson.

The #11 ranked Hardin-Jefferson Hawks will take on the #20 Navasota Rattlers in a class 3A Region III Area round playoff at Willis High school at 7:30pm. HJ has defeated Navasota 3 straight years in the playoffs and they are looking to make it 4 straight with the victory tonight. The winner of this game will face the winner of Cleveland/Madisonville in the quarterfinals. We have a special treat for this broadcast as our very own LAZEEK, will join me in bringing some color commentary to this broadcast. Should be a great broadcast and great game. Broadcast start time will be 7:20pm, with tipoff at 7:30pm. Click the link to listen to another fantastic playoff game here at SETXsports.com!!! [Hidden Content]

Again, I apologize for the terrible voice that I gave out over the air tonight. Hopefully it will hold up through tomorrow night's game.

I still have not gotten a Navasota roster. If someone can help me with this, I would greatly appreciate it.

[quote name="HoopInsider_Cooper" post="766941" timestamp="1267161415"] [font=Courier]Ozen-EC has the perfect broadcast setup![/font] [/quote] No question!!! I told Travis tonight that he should go to EC.

I really look at this game from a very positive side. Silsbee shot their worst from the line all season and turned the ball over as many times as they have had all season, and still come out the victor. I think this is Silsbee's stinker game of the playoffs. Now let's get ready to roll!!!

[quote name="tvman91" post="766937" timestamp="1267161099"] Wish I could have seen the game. But do you think this puts serious talk of Silsbee for State in the air? [/quote] They better start making more free throws. You miss 22 free throws in a game, you probably should lose.

I would much rather have them play at Ozen or East Chambers. Preferably EC!!!

[quote name="CATMAN" post="766920" timestamp="1267160338"] The only thing i can say about this game if you were not there you miss a very good game. :D :D [/quote] Good talking to you tonight, CATMAN.

[quote name="FanintheStands" post="766917" timestamp="1267160233"] At the risk of watching HJ lose to Navasota and having egg all over my face, if I was Silsbee, I'd be very worried that they peaked too early in the year. Look at their last 3 games.  Lost to HJ.  Lost to Kountze.  Squeaked by Rudder.  By all definitions, Silsbee should make it to the Regional Finals, but if you looked at their last two weeks of games........ I have a feeling they are going to turn it up a notch or two from here on out, however. [/quote] My honest opinion is that the Tigers have went through a little lull but I fully expect this team to start catch their breathe after this win and really start playing well again.

[quote name="FanintheStands" post="766918" timestamp="1267160278"] BTW, what was with all the traveling calls?  Were the referees that picky or what? [/quote] All were correct calls. Of Silsbee's 23 turnovers, 10 were from the traveling violations.

Scoring for both teams: Rudder Marquis Taylor        15 Dominique Robinson  11 Semaj McGruder       9 Michael Jones          8 Reginal Lawson        7 Jared Rodgers          3 Skylar Wells             3 Jamie Anderson        3 Demarshan Wilson     2 Silsbee Prentice Lane            14  (11 rebounds, 6 assists) Pheal Hill                   13  (6 rebounds, 5 steals) Kendrick Jones           12  (12 rebounds, 2 block shots) D.C. Stallworth           10  (11 rebounds, 3 assists) Kelton Gaines              9   (made last 2 free throws) Ronald Barrett             3 Avory Thomas             1  (6 rebounds, 3 blocks) Team stats foul shooting Rudder    7/17   41% Silsbee   12/34  35% 3 point shooting Rudder   5/21    24% Silsbee   2/7     29% turnovers Rudder    16 Silsbee    23 Rebounds Rudder     29 Silsbee     49 Score by quarters                        1     2      3      4     tot Rudder              19    11    10    21     61 Silsbee              12    27    10    13     62 Summary FREE THROWS, FREE THROWS, FREE THROWS!!!!!! I would have said Silsbee would lose this game if they shot 35% from the charity stripe and turn the ball over 23 times!!! Rudder is by far the quickest team that Silsbee has played all season, quicker than HJ and Kountze. Coach Chris Jones decision to take on the much taller Tigers almost paid off. Big key for Silsbee's win was out rebounding Rudder 49-29 and the Rangers missing 16 three's. The second quarter won it for the Tigers as they went into that quarter trailing by 7, 19-12, but started the quarter on a 9-0 run to take the lead and then got another 10-0 run to go into half, leading 39-30. Silsbee took the lead at the 5 minute mark of the 2nd and never relinquished it the remainder of the game. Silsbee got as big as a 15 point lead, 37-22. Silsbee maintained that 9 point lead throughout the 3rd quarter, but continued to struggle from the line, missing their first 9 attempts in the second half. Silsbee at one time was 9/31, a terrible 29%, but made the last 2 that really counted, to get the win. Very clutch free throws made by soph. guard Kelton Gaines. Silsbee got balanced scoring tonight with Lane, Hill, Jones and Stallworth all scoring in double figures. Jones again was the man for Silsbee on the boards as he collected a game high 12 rebounds. Big factor late for Silsbee was not having Stallworth on the floor in those last few minutes as he was battling cramps most of the 4th. DC toughed it out as much as he could but had to sit those last 2 minutes of the game. Silsbee got the win, barely, and now move on to face WOS for the third time this season. Congrats Tigers on a very hard fought win.

Stats coming up soon. First I got to pop a top on a cold one and chill.

Silsbee out scored Rudder in the 2nd quarter 27-11

Rudder is 1/11 from 3 point land. Silsbee out rebounded Rudder 24-13 in the first half.

Is the broadcast coming thru?

Broadcast has started!!

Broadcast will start in 5 minutes!

tt

Thank you. Just got to my hotel room and got online.

Any final yet on Silsbee/Ozen game?

tt

[quote name="ShayneBasketball" post="766294" timestamp="1267123387"] I said he was a great coach but not a legend at Lincoln. In my opinion, he became a legend at Ozen building a program from nothing. Once again, he was a great coach in the beginning and became legend at Ozen. When you think Lincoln the first coach that comes to mind is Coach Gamble, not Boutte or Price. [b]On the other hand, when you think Ozen the first name that comes to mind is Coach Boutte[/b].  All these coaches are great people and great leaders with legendary careers. [/quote] Well duh!! Up until the middle of last season, he was the only basketball coach that Ozen had ever had. Of course people are gonna think Boutte when thinking of Ozen. ::)

I didn't know that me being a Silsbee grad, former Silsbee basketball player, broadcasting all Silsbee sports, paid by Silsbee sponsors, that I had to be unbiased in my broadcasting of Silsbee games. ;) ::) Nobody is forcing you to listen.  ;D I think I call a fair game. ;D

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