DeSales, Evangel Christian win to set up matchup in Sixth Region basketball semifinals
Behind a play it hadn’t tried all season, the DeSales High School basketball team kept its Sixth Region championship hopes alive.
Crew Gibson’s three-point play with 45.1 seconds left was the difference as the Colts knocked off host Pleasure Ridge Park 62-58 on Tuesday in a regional quarterfinal.
DeSales led 56-55 when coach Damien Anderson called a timeout in the final minute. He drew up a sideline out-of-bounds play for Gibson to cut toward the basket from the top of the key.
“We actually hadn’t run that play all year,” Anderson said. “(PRP) was switching everything, and we thought it would be open. (Will Gibson) made a nice pass, and Crew made a nice play to get the basket.”
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Crew Gibson, a 6-foot-8 senior who has committed to Indiana Tech, scored 21 points to lead the Colts (20-11). They’ll face Evangel Christian at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in a regional semifinal at Valley High School.
“We’re excited to go to Valley, and we know we have a big one with Evangel,” Crew Gibson said. “We’re locked in right now.”
After a slow first quarter — PRP led 8-6 after eight minutes — both teams shot well over the final three. PRP senior Greg Cole scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half.
“When Greg got rolling, I thought, ‘Here we go,’” Panthers coach Larry Kihnley said. “He’s carried us the whole year and got us over the hump many times. I thought, ‘He’s got us. We’re going to win this thing.’”
Cole’s two free throws gave PRP (23-6) a 55-54 lead with 2:51 remaining. Tyler Klein’s basket gave DeSales a 56-55 edge at the 2:30 mark.
Cole got a steal and appeared destined for a layup that would have given PRP a 57-56 lead with 1:40 left, but Crew Gibson came from behind to block it. Kihnley and the Panthers begged for a goaltending call on Gibson.
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“I felt like that kind of rocked us a little bit … and they came back and made plays,” Kihnley said. “Credit to them.”
Julian Bunton’s steal and dunk with 15 seconds made it 62-55 and sealed the Colts’ victory.
Afterward, Anderson was asked if he felt more excitement or relief.
“More excited, I think,” he said. “I don’t know how many people picked us to win this game, so I’m pretty excited about it.”
DESALES 6 21 22 13 - 62
PRP 8 16 24 10 - 58
DeSales (20-11) – Julian Bunton 2, DaVon Martin 3, Brady Cummins 14, Tyler Klein 18, Will Gibson 4, Crew Gibson 21.
Pleasure Ridge Park (23-6) – Greg Cole 22, Malachi Hamilton 14, Jakob Dixon 5, NaiQuan Williams 6, Shawn Irvin 2, Kyrel Grisby 2, Keith Robinson 7.
Evangel Christian 79, Fern Creek 53
Cyr Malonga scored 26 points and Christian Doerr added 22 as the host Eagles (29-4) cruised past the Tigers (12-17).
Up 13-11 after one quarter, Evangel outscored Fern Creek 21-6 in the second to take a 34-17 halftime lead.
It marked the second regional tournament victory ever for Evangel Christian, which got its first last year.
Camren Trice and Tahj Boston both scored 12 points to lead Fern Creek.
FERN CREEK 11 6 14 22 - 53
EVANGEL 13 21 22 23 - 79
Fern Creek (12-17) – Camren Trice 12, Caron Brumfield 5, Tahj Boston 12, Carlos Adams 2, Damere Clark 2, Jaden Johnson 10, Naz Shahid 3, Britain Clark 3, Alpha Diop 4.
Evangel Christian (29-4) – Johnny Djema 3, Christian Doerr 22, Ben Mukadi 6, Kyran Tilley 13, Isaiah Chipata 5, Gianni Davis 2, Aaron Taylor 2, Cyr Malonga 26.
Butler 55, Fairdale 47
Jaron Sullivan scored 16 points — all in the second half — and Dayton Williams added 15 as the host Bears (23-8) rallied past the Bulldogs (22-10).
Fairdale led 14-4 after the first quarter, but Butler rallied within 24-21 at halftime and took a 39-34 lead after three quarters.
Butler will face defending regional champion Jeffersontown at noon Saturday in a regional semifinal at Valley.
Jacob Tucker scored 17 points to lead Fairdale.
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FAIRDALE 14 10 10 13 - 47
BUTLER 4 17 18 16 - 55
Fairdale (22-10) – Cam Croney 6, Dalton Hicks 11, Jake Dewboys 2, Joe Hurt 11, Jacob Tucker 17.
Butler (23-8) – Dontre Russell 7, Dayton Williams 15, Markel Meriwether 8, Jaymone Clark 2, Jaron Sullivan 16, Ben Hayes 3, Terry Walker 4.
Jeffersontown 74, Moore 36
The host Chargers got big scoring nights from Brandon Gatewood (14 points), Camron McDaniels (13) and Genesis Nimely (12) in their rout of the Mustangs (13-19).
J’town outscored Moore 49-17 over the second and third quarters to take control.
Hunter Wheatley’s 10 points paced Moore.
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MOORE 10 8 9 9 - 36
JEFFERSONTOWN 13 20 29 12 - 74
Moore (13-19) – Dayvonne Harrison 9, DaShawn Hall 2, Jacob Forney 4, Jerry Bartlett 2, Davier White 2, Hunter Wheatley 10, Karmel Jackson 7.
Jeffersontown (15-12) – Brandon Gatewood 14, Jaydon Hackley 2, Lukus McDaniels 4, Brenton Moore 3, Antwon Thornton 9, Genesis Nimely 12, Rhys Taylor 9, Michael Clay 8, Camron McDaniels 13.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Sixth Region boys basketball: DeSales, Evangel Christian win quarters
