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Vikings go on road to repeat as region champs

By RICKEY CLARDY ~ For the T-G
Posted 3/5/21

CHARLOTTE - Throughout the postseason, the Community Vikings have enjoyed the luxury of playing every game in the district and region tournaments at home and with positive results. Thursday night in the Region 6-AA finals, the location changed, but the outcome didn't...

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Vikings go on road to repeat as region champs

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CHARLOTTE - Throughout the postseason, the Community Vikings have enjoyed the luxury of playing every game in the district and region tournaments at home and with positive results.

Thursday night in the Region 6-AA finals, the location changed, but the outcome didn't.

Community (22-7) protected a slim lead down the stretch with patience on offense and used a strong night at the free throw line to defeat the Creek Wood Red Hawks 54-49.

It was a rematch of last season's region final when the Vikings defeated the Red Hawks 80-57.

The victory also marked the first time in school history the Vikings have won consecutive region championships.

In contrast to a more deliberate style in their starts in recent games, the Vikings pushed the pace in the opening half.

The Vikings led early before the Red Hawks took their only lead of the game at 6-5 with 3:59 left.

The Creek Wood lead would only last 12 seconds as Jackson Bailey connected on three consecutive field goals to spur Community to an 8-0 run and a 13-9 lead after one quarter.

Evan Petrie and Will Reed each scored six points in the second quarter as the Vikings extended their lead.

The duo were 6-of-6 from the free throw line as Community went on a 6-0 run to take its biggest lead at 27-17 with 1:34 left.

The Vikings led 29-21 at halftime.

A Reed basket eight seconds into the third quarter gave the Vikings a 31-21 lead before Creek Wood found its mark from three-point land.

Treys by Jace Herrell and Cole Adams pulled the Red Hawks to within 35-31 before a 3-point play by Bailey gave the Vikings a 38-31 lead.

A three-pointer by Creek Wood's Raekwonn Nesbitt with nine seconds remaining left the Vikings with a 38-34 lead heading to the final quarter.

The Red Hawk success from long distance continued into the quarter as Herrell connected on two treys.

His second trey tied the game at 40-40 with 6:50 remaining.

After taking time off the clock, a clutch field goal by Petrie gave the Vikings the lead for good at 42-40 with 5:22 remaining.

Reed, Petrie, and Bailey scored all 16 Viking points in the quarter as Community took time off the clock and connected on free throws to maintain its lead down the stretch.

But Creek Wood was not ready to throw in the towel.

The Red Hawks answered the Vikings and used two free throws by Jamison Ford with 41 seconds left to cut the Community lead to 51-49.

Reed connected on 3-of-4 foul shots as the Vikings increased their lead to 54-49 with 27 seconds remaining.

With one final chance on offense, the Red Hawks missed a trey after the Viking defense forced Creek Wood to inbound the ball three times under its basket.

After a Community rebound, the Vikings ran out the clock en route to the region championship.

Bailey had 20 points to lead three Vikings in double figures.

Reed had 18 points while Petrie added 14.

Herrell led the Red Hawks with 13 points.

The Vikings finished 15-of-18 at the foul line while Creek Wood was 7-of-9.

Community will advance to the sectional round and host East Nashville Monday night at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last season's sectional game. A Viking win would punch a ticket to the TSSAA Class AA state tournament.

***Coach Robbie Davis of the Vikings on their start:

We knew that the team that came out and got after it the hardest at the beginning is going to be the one to win this thing. We've all got the same legs, we've played the same schedules, and both teams are going to be a little fatigued. If the pace is slower, it kind of favors them because they're at home.

***More from Davis on the fast pace at the outset:

We've haven't played that fast to start a game in awhile. I think early it really bothered them. We wanted to pick up the pace because we saw the film where they like to walk up the floor and run their stuff. We didn't want them to have a heavy run in the first half. They're really good at what they do.

***Davis on the second half Creek Wood run:

I told the guys they're going to make a run. They're too good a team. They made some tough shots to get it tied up.

***Davis on his team's reaction to the Creek Wood run:

There was a point where we spread the floor and got layups. Most of the guys have been through the wars. They went through last year and they know what it takes to win.

***Davis on protecting the lead in the fourth quarter

If we look up and we've got at least a two-possession lead with a minute to go, we feel really good about it. We took care of the ball, we got a couple of stops when we needed it, and we rebounded like crazy. This is a good win against a really good basketball team.

Community 13 16 9 16 - 54

Creek Wood 9 12 13 15 - 49

Community: Jackson Bailey 20, Will Reed 18, Evan Petrie 14, Stratton Lovvorn 2, Jacob Cooper, Maki Fleming, Emery Smith.

Creek Wood: Jace Herrell 13, Jamison Ford 10, Raekwonn Nesbitt 9, Rex Edmondson 8, Cole Adams 7, Braden Dawson 2, Kayden Austin.

3-Point goals: Community (1): Reed; Creek Wood (6): Herrell 3, Nesbitt 2, Adams.

Halftime score: Community 29, Creek Wood 21.