CHAPEL HILL — All season long, the Community Vikings have struggled to crash the boards consistently and limit opponents second-chance shot opportunities and all season long, Viking coach Robbie Davis has wanted his team to be more aggressive in tracking down missed shots.
There’s no time like the present to turn the corner.
On Tuesday night, the Vikings utilized a stellar effort off the glass to limit the Forrest Rockets’ scoring opportunities and fought off a furious, second-half rally to win the District 7-AA consolation game, 48-42.
“ It’s been our struggle all year long—the rebounding part. Rebounding is just mentality—going and rebounding and wanting to go rebound. Tonight, we did. For the first time all year, for four quarters, we rebounded misses. We gave up a few second-chance points, but not like we had been. That’s the reason we were able to get out to a lead because we were able to limit them to one and done,” Davis said.
Davis couldn’t have asked for a better defensive start, or a better start off the glass after holding the Rockets to just five first-quarter points.
The Vikings were also rather selective on their shots taken and despite a scoreless three minutes to start that saw both teams kiss every inch of the rim on three-point attempts, the Vikings knocked down the first basket of the game on a baseline jumper by Ramone Hernandez with 4:21 left in the frame.
The return of junior Maki Fleming can’t be overvalued as his addition to the roster, after sitting for much of the season nursing a knee injury, made his impact felt in just his second game played this season.
By putting Fleming back on the floor, the Rockets’ defense had to pay him closer attention, which freed up the Viking attack off the block.
“Having Maki back, you can’t put that into words. This is Game 2 that he’s been back. The first game was a little rough, but the offense flowed a whole lot better tonight. We’ve had a few more practices with him in the group. You’ve got to come out and guard him and sometimes put two guys on him,” Davis said.
In addition to drawing additional defenders to him, Fleming also made his impact felt in the scoring column, knocking down timely shots.
With the Vikings crashing the boards, it was Landon Lovvorn who gave Community a nice cushion heading into the half after back-to-back three-pointers in the final two minutes.
Forrest did get a basket with 1:33 left in the second to cut the Community lead to 11 points at the break, but wasn’t able to manage more of a first-half comeback bid.
But that all changed in the third quarter as the Rockets caught fire from the perimeter and at one point, scored 12-straight points from the arc, highlighted by a trey that knotted the game at 29 courtesy of Bray McCown.
Community answered on a free throw by Jason Cullen and a jumper by Hernandez with 1:05 to go, but Rocket senior Davin Porter swished the nylon for the Rockets’ fifth three-pointer of the quarter as time expired to tie the game for a second time at 32 heading to the fourth quarter.
Forrest went on to tie the game one more time at 40 on yet another three-pointer, this time coming courtesy of Jimmy Bond, with 2:20 to go, prompting a timeout by Davis.
As with each time the Rockets had tied the game, Community’s growth and maturation flared, allowing Community to answer the Rockets’ push for the lead.
Forrest never led in Tuesday’s consolation game.
“It’s a huge growth with just the experience in an atmosphere like this. It’s only going to help us going down the road,” Davis said.
Following the timeout, Community answered on an 8-0 run over the following two minutes to stretch its lead to eight points.
Ryan Meglis ended the run with a basket with 23 seconds to go.
In the closing seconds, things got interesting as the Vikings turned the ball over, giving the Rockets multiple looks at three, but it was Fleming who hauled in the rebound in the final seconds that effectively ended the threat and allowed the Vikings to secure third in the tournament.
Forrest shot the lights out from the arc and made nine treys in the game, while Community was much more timely in its shots from the perimeter and connected on four.
The combination of Fleming on the floor freed up Cole Crockett and Jacob Flannagan in the low post and the pair combined for 16 points.
Lovvorn and Fleming both scored 11 points to lead the Purple and Gold, while Meglis led all scorers with 13 points.
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Vikings, who now must hit the road in region play to keep their season alive.
But there’s precedent for success for Community when finishing third in the district tournament.
Following an upset in the District 8-AA tournament by Whites Creek’s 43-42 stunner over No. 2 seed Pearl Cohn, the Vikings will stay away from both the Firebirds and No. 1 ranked East Nashville, following Tuesday’s win over the Rockets.
“Playing for third is huge. I told the guys, two of my four sub-states we went to, we finished third in the district. It’s all about matchups. You’re coming off a win and the other team is coming off a loss. It’ worked in our favor the two times that we’ve done it. Hopefully this will springboard us. Going to a different place and a different style of basketball its going to be a challenge for our guys for sure,” Davis said.
The Vikings will begin region play on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Whites Creek.

Community 11 15 6 16 — 48
Forrest 5 10 17 10 — 42

Community: Landon Lovvorn 11, Maki Fleming 11, Cole Crockett 10, Ramone Hernandez 7, Jacob Flannagan 6, Jason Cullen 3.
Forrest: Ryan Meglis 13, Bray McCown 10, Davin Porter 9, Jimmy Bond 6, Mason Harper 4.
3-Point goals: Forrest (7): McCown 3, Porter 2, Bond 2; Community (4): Lovvorn 3, Fleming.
Halftime score: Community 26, Forrest 15.