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Section boys advance to Regional finals
By Kelly Bunch
The Weekly Post
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Published February 18, 2010
JACKSONVILLE – The Section Lions took one more step toward winning a regional title by downing Vincent 59-56 Monday night, in Jacksonville at Pete Matthews Coliseum.
The Lions last won a regional title in 2001.
Section came out flat in the opening quarter and allowed Vincent to open up an 18-9 lead by the end of the period.
Section trailed by as many as 11 at one point.
Section regained its old swagger in the second quarter and took its first lead of the game when 6’ 8” junior Darren Culver, the game’s leading scorer with 23 points, gave the Lions a 25-24 lead with just over two minutes left in the half.
Section went on from that point to hold a 32-30 lead at the intermission.
Clint Ryan kept Section alive for the most part, in the first half..
Ryan finished the half with 10 points, six boards and four assists. Culver added eight points and six rebounds.
Section outscored Vincent 23-12 in the second quarter, and outrebounded them 24-17 over the course of the first half.
Vincent came out the second half and retook charge of the game.
The Yellow Jackets reclaimed the lead in the opening minutes of the third after going on a 6-0 run. With 2:14 left in the period, Vincent increased its lead to nine.
Chance McCarver nailed a 3-pointer with a little over a minute left in the third to pull Section to within four.
The third quarter ended with Section trailing 47-43.
Vincent looked as if they might take control of the game in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, but Section would have none of it.
After Vincent moved out to a 49-43 lead, Section had then had enough.
Ryan pulled his team to within two on a baseline jumper.
After stopping Vincent on the other end, Section charged down the court, and worked the ball inside to Culver. Culver’s shot in the paint tied the game at 49-all.
On the Lions next possession, Culver once again got the call and delivered on a running layup that put Section on top 55-54 with 5:06 remaining.
Vincent fought back and regained the lead once more at the 2:09 mark, but with 33 seconds left, Ryan stole an errant pass and drove the length of the court and put Section back out front for good.
Section will advance to face Sand Rock today at 4:45 in the championship game. Sand Rock defeated Ranburne 78-61.
Culver led all scorers with 23 points; he also pulled down 11 rebounds.
Ryan finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while McCarver was held under his usual average with 11 points.
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