INMAN (Feb. 14, 2017) — Chapman turned up the defensive pressure late for a hard-fought win in a back-and-forth game in the 3A playoffs on Tuesday.
The Panthers (13-7) trailed at halftime but made 10 of their 14 3-pointers in the second half in an 86-75 win over visiting Fairfield Central.
The Panthers, who got a game-high 30 points from Tyrell Oglesby, closed the game with a 15-1 run over the final two minutes to take the lead and eventually put away the Griffins (5-12), who outscored Chapman 28-12 in the second quarter and led 40-34 at halftime.
“To have 34 points at halftime is a low number for us,” Chapman coach Greg Wilson said. “We picked up the pace in the second half and were able to get more shots in transition and more 50-50 balls, especially late. We’ll chalk this one up to being one that we really wanted in the end.”
Oglesby and Colton Bailey opened the third quarter with threes to tie the game at 40, Stan Ashmore added a pair of threes and neither team led by more than five points until late. The Griffins, who made just two 3-pointers, instead went for shots closer to the basket, mostly beating the Panthers’ full-court pressure.
Until the final minutes.
Down 74-71 with 3:41 remaining, the Panthers started the spurt. Back-to-back layups and two free throws by Oglesby started the run, and the Panthers got four turnovers in the final three minutes. Shamar Miller (12 points), Shyking Johnson (14) and Shaundre Miller each scored during the run.
Chandon Davis led Fairfield Central with 25 points, Audwin Armstrong scored 16, and Jalen Mazyck had 10 of his 14 in the second quarter.
“Sometimes when you’re on the road in the playoffs it can feel like five against six, and I told the guys it would be that way,” Fairfield Central head coach Brian Sanders said. “Some of the guys seemed to take it as a joke. I’ve been there before in the playoffs and seen it. We’re a young team and will take it as a learning experience.”
Chapman will play at Seneca on Friday in a second-round matchup.
