SOUTHSIDE – Christian-Miller Cardwell reverse dunk with 3.4 seconds left was the exclamation point on visiting Gainesville 51-37 win over host Englewood last night in the Region I-7A semifinal game.
Cardwell broke free down the court and sent the few Ram fans remaining packing with the thundering dunk while also drawing a technical foul for hanging on the rim.
Cardwell fouled out of the game on the play; but it didn’t matter as the Hurricanes (24-5) moved on to the Elite 8 Friday and will host Fort Walton Beach Choctaw in the regional final.
For Englewood (24-5) it was a chance to move onto the Elite 8 for the first time since back-to-back trips in 1998 and 1999 and also avenge a 58-43 first round loss to the Hurricanes last year, unfortunately it didn’t happen.
Englewood was 15-0 at home coming into the game while Gainesville was 8-1 on the road, something had to give.
Gainesville jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as the Rams never lead in the game.
Both teams struggled early on thanks to numerous turnovers and poor free throw shooting as Gainesville held a 9-2 lead after the first quarter.
The intensity picked up in the second quarter as the Hurricanes took a 17-13 lead into the locker room at the half.
The combination of Cardwell and teammate Dallas Tealer, both three point specialists, was to much to overcome though.
Back-to-back three’s by the duo gave the Hurricanes a 23-17 lead midway through the third quarter forcing Englewood coach Jerry Battle to call a timeout to settle down his team and stop the momentum.
Jalen Stevens came out of the timeout and nailed a three to cut the lead to 23-20, the Rams would get as close at 29-27 but another Cardwell three put the Hurricanes ahead 32-27 to end the third.
Seconds into the fourth quarter, following a jumper from Cardwell which gave the Hurricanes a 34-27 lead, a Hurricanes fan was ejected after Cardwell picked up his fourth foul.
J’len Wilson extended the lead to ten with a layup and ensuing free throw, however a 8-2 run by the Rams put them back in striking position at 39-35 with three minutes left in the fourth.
However, it was a 12-2 run by the Hurricanes down the stretch which allowed the Hurricanes to move on and end the high school careers of Jalen Stevens, Na’Italian Ealy, Darius Bryant and Loro Natana.
