Elsik’s missed free throws allowed Marlins opportunity to get back in the game
After fouling out, starting guards Cortlandt Mills and Greg King could only watch their dreams go down in disbelieve from the bench.
Senior Olatunde Idowu made the steal of the game while tossing the ball to teammate Clarence Shelvin who was waiting within ten feet of the basket. Shelvin laid it up and in with 3.80 seconds to go as Madison eliminated the Alief Elsik Rams 87-86 in Class 5A Region III Quarterfinals Wednesday night at Coleman Coliseum.
The win sends the Marlins to the Region III Semifinals where they will face Fort Bend Hightower Friday night at the Campbell Center. The Hurricanes defeated district rival Elkins to gain a berth.
The Rams have their selves to blame, after missing five free throws down the stretch.
Elsik led 11-6 early, on the strength of three-3-pointers and a layup, two coming from Sam Nwadike, one from Mills while Nwadike added a layup. Though King stretch the deficit to eight, with a trey from the right base line, the Marlins battled back on Keyon Thomas free throws, Alvin Turner’s jumper and Daniel Wilson’s turnaround jumper from the free throw line to end the first quarter down 21-17.
Elsik continued their hot shooting when Ke’Andre Jackson laced two free throws followed by a midrange shot from Jarvis Nicks while King drained consecutive treys to build a ten point lead, 42-32 with 3:02 to go in the second quarter. The Marlins climbed back within five with a free throw by Shelvin and a close range shot from Turner before Elsik’s King completed a three point play the old fashion way, penetrating to the basket, converting the shot as he converted the bonus, pushing the lead back to eight, and 45-37.
Madison had no answer for the guard oriented Elsik’s team of Sam Nwadike, Mills, King, Samad Harris, Jackson and De’Shawn Robinson who penetrated the lane for uncontested layups most of the first half. The Marlins managed to stay close with second chance points before going to intermission, down 48-39.
Midways through the third quarter, Shelvins back to back 3-pointers trimmed Elsik’s deficit to three, 51-48. But right after the Rams responded with five unanswered points when Jackson made good on a layup and King was fouled while taking a three pointer. He proceeded to the free throw line where he knocked down all three of the foul shots.
The Rams took a 63-52 lead into the fourth quarter.
With just under 4:00 minutes to go, the Marlins trialed 68-62 when Wilson made a steal as he followed it up with a layup. At this point the Marlins are going full steam.
Madison’s Guard Jonathon Barefield penetrated the lane while faking an up move to get the defense up in the air as feed the ball to Roderick Smith who was wide open under basket, 78-75 with 1:58 to go.
Mean while, the Rams were ice cold from the charity stripe. Robinson missed three-free throws as did Jackson who missed two, leaving an opening for the Marlins.
Down 86-84, the Marlins may have gotten away with a gift as Barefield tagged along side King who was attempting to get in position for the inbound pass, but instead collided with Barefield while being charged with the foul. Barefield shot free throws converting both with 15.20 seconds to go.
Then to add to the damage with both starting guards fouled out, King and Mills could only watch as Idowu made the game winning steal, tossing to Shelvin for the finishing layup.
