CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One year after finishing state runner-up, Charleston Catholic was determined to break through.
Not even a deficit against top seed Bluefield for more than 27 minutes of play during Saturday’s Class AA title game was going stop the Irish from doing so.
Despite never leading until the fourth quarter, No. 2 Charleston Catholic gained its first lead just before the midway point of the fourth quarter, then went on top for good with just outside 2 minutes remaining and displayed the necessary resiliency down the stretch to secure a 42-39 victory against Bluefield at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
“I’m super proud of the players. They work really hard for this,” Irish head coach Hunter Moles said. “Sometimes in life you work really hard and don’t get the result you want. I’m glad they got the result.”
CCHS (24-4) faced an early 10-0 deficit that proved to match the Beavers’ largest lead. The Irish settled in some and trailed 14-7 through one quarter after making 3-of-12 shots in the first quarter to the Beavers’ 6-for-11 shooting, which was keyed by three-pointers from Sencere Fields and Glen Keene to start, before RJ Hairston accounted for the final six points of the opening period.
The Irish were to within five late in the first half following Jayallen Turner’s driving basket, but Bluefield (21-6) answered with five straight points and ultimately settled for a 23-15 halftime lead.
Through two quarters, the Irish were 7 for 22 from the field, 1 of 8 from three and had not attempted a free throw.
Catholic got to the charity stripe 1:25 into the second half when Zaden Ranson finished off a conventional three-point play that helped ignite the Irish in what was their strongest quarter to that point.
“In the third quarter, we got to the free-throw line a lot and that helped us get into the game,” Moles said.
When Turner made two free throws with 3:42 left in the third, Catholic’s deficit was one at 25-24, although Keene made a three to counter it and Hairston added two field goals late in the frame that helped BHS lead 32-29 with 8 minutes to play.
Keene’s third and final triple 58 seconds into the fourth upped the Beavers’ advantage to five.
“I feel like every shot I shoot is going to go in,” Keene said. “It’s all about confidence.”
However, Catholic countered with a 6-0 spurt that featured field goals from Max Wilcox, Turner and Ranson.
“Everyone stayed confident. I knew the game will eventually come to me,” Turner said. “Played a little bit more aggressive in that second half. At the end of the day, guys stepped up and it was a team effort.”
With the Irish on top 38-36, E.J. Washington made a trey with 3:22 remaining that gave Bluefield what proved to be its last lead and final points.
Ranson’s two free throws with 2:07 left put CCHS in front by one and Washington misfired on two treys the next time Bluefield got the ball.
Still, an illegal screen on an inbound play allowed the Beavers to get possession back, but out of a timeout, Turner stripped Hairston and allowed Wilcox to sink two free throws with 2.3 seconds left that provided the final margin and helped seal the outcome.
Large indicated he felt there was contact on the play.
“We had a great play setup,” Large said. “Did you see what happened to RJ when he drove to the bucket?”
After going without a free-throw attempt through two frames, the Irish made 13 of 15 for the game, including 5 of 6 in the fourth quarter.
Ranson led CCHS with 13 points and nine rebounds. Turner, the school’s all-time leading scorer, had 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Wildcox scored 11 to provide a third player in double figures.
“You can put all the stuff on the whiteboard and say all these things pregame. We’re saying refuse to lose, but it takes the guys to put it in action.” Moles said. “I mentioned we just need to win by one point. Find a way to win. Doesn’t matter if we lead or trail the whole game. We have to just find a way to win.”
The Irish won the rebounding battle 27-20, including 11-7 on the offensive end.
“Games like this you have to have a one-shot limit and they got a couple second shots,” Large said. “You do the best you can and see what happens.”
Hairston led Bluefield with 11 points, while Keene and Kam’Ron Gore scored nine apiece.
The Beavers made only 2-of-6 free throws.
“The momentum switched and we still had our chances,” Large said. “We’re up by one late. It was a great high school basketball game, but this one is tough to swallow.”