Cherokee’s J.J. Benjamin (#23) shoots over Community School of Davidson’s Alex McMahan (#14) in a second round state playoff game at home on Saturday, Feb. 28. Benjamin ended the game with 11 points and four assists. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather)
By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
The Cherokee Braves (24-2) stayed persistent and overcame a 10-point first period deficit in a state playoff second round game at home on Saturday, Feb. 28. Cherokee ended up defeating the visiting Community School of Davidson Spartans 64-54 after trailing for most of the first half.
“It was a strange ball game,” said Willis Tullos, Braves head coach. “We did some really good things and we did some terrible things that we haven’t done in a long, long time. We made so many mental mistakes that we haven’t made in a long time.”
Coach Tullos said the team will be back in focus for the Sectional Finals set for Monday, March 2 where they will travel to Albemarle.
The Braves started out slowly in Saturday’s game and trailed early. Dustin Johnson, Braves senior point guard, made Cherokee’s first basket at the 5:23 mark in the first. The Braves would go on to trail 16-6 at the end of the first period.
Both teams came out and matched each other basket for basket for the first four minutes of the second period, and Davidson led 24-14 with 3:39 left before the half. The Braves stepped up the pressure defensively and didn’t allow Davidson another point all period.
Then, Cherokee went on a six point run to come to within four (24-20) with 2:04 left. Almost two minutes later, Eli Littlejohn, Braves senior center, hit two free throws with 13 seconds left to tie the game at 24-24 – the first time Cherokee had not trailed all game.
The last few seconds before the half were entertaining for Braves fans. Brandt Sutton stole the ball and got a quick bucket with 7.5 seconds left to give Cherokee their first lead at 26-24. On the ensuing inbounds pass, Jason McMillan stole the ball on the far left side and quickly passed the ball inside to Johnson who made a finger-roll layup with 2 seconds left to give Cherokee at 28-24 lead at the half. McMillan ended the game with six steals.
Cherokee began to extend its lead in the third period and led 39-29 with 1:47 left. They would take a 43-31 lead into the fourth.
The Braves kept going and led 50-25 with 4:35 left in the ball game. Cherokee played a tough game defensively, and two Braves (Littlejohn and J.J. Benjamin) fouled out in the fourth period. But, it didn’t phase the Braves as they held on for the 64-54 victory.
Cherokee’s scorers included: Jason McMillan 13, Brandt Sutton 6, Steven Straughan 3, Kennan Panther 2, Dustin Johnson 20, J.J. Benjamin 11 and Eli Littlejohn 9.
Community School of Davidson scorers included: Alex McMahan 2, Bishop Windley 3, Zachary McAfee 6, John McKibbin 16, Davis Hare 2, Kevin Yascur 4, Robert Brown 13, Adam Daily 2 and Will Mitchell 6.
To view or purchase photos from this game, visit: https://onefeather.smugmug.com/SPORTS/BASKETBALL/BRAVES-BASKETBALL-201415/Vs-Community-School-of/
