Hancock Central vs. Randolph-Clay

“Red Devils” too hot to handle!

Two defending champs meet in Class A Finals

Macon Centreplex – Macon, GA

Randolph-Clay's Shamaine Dukes and Lancie Cannon were outstanding combimed for 57 points in the win over Hancock Central

When the state’s classifications changed yet again this past year and Randolph-Clay was dropped down from Class AA to Class A it was a foregone conclusion in our minds that with practically the entire team that included returning McDonald’s All-American nominee’s 6-2 Shamaine “Don’t Hurt’em” Dukes and 6-6 Lancie “The Quite Storm” Cannon returning after winning the Class AA Championship that they would be the odds on favorite to run roughshod over the competition in Class A and win the Class A Championship. Well after 54 straight wins it's time for the Final Four and guess what the “Red Devils” are here and the demolition has begun!

Randolph-Clay’s  6-6 junior jumping-jack Rashaad Lewis won the opening tip got up court and followed up a miss shot to give the “Red Devils” a quick lead and they never looked back. Randolph-Clay jumped into their vaunted full court press and forced the stunned “Bulldogs” to turn the ball over several times. Two free-throws by up and coming star Martavious Allen made it 4-0.

Hancock Central's Cordero Foster did a nice job inside, he scores on this lay-up.

After that it was time for “The Show” you know the “Dukes & Cannon Show”; first it was Dukes, THREE its good, then Cannon inside, 2 more points, then Cannon scores on a put-back after a turnover and just like that Randolph-Clay had built up a 12-3 lead….oh but it wasn’t over yet Dukes made a slick cross-over move pulled up and hit a long jumper and just a few seconds later the 6-2 senor All-American drilled another three-pointer. “The Show” ended with Cannon canning a pair of free-throws that gave the “Red Devils” a 23-10 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.

The “Bulldogs” settled down at the start of the 2nd quarter and started playing their game. Dequarrius Jones a 6-4 junior who did a nice job on the boards for Hancock Central scored, then sharp-shooter Rontavia Reaves scored on a fastbreak to cut the lead to 29-14.

Dukes continued his assault on the “Bulldogs” drilling another three-pointer to make the score 32-14. A long jumper by Montreon Davis followed by a big-time block by 6-4 freshman Demetrius Parks got the Hancock Central fans jacked up. The big “Bulldogs” crowd really went off after a steal and basket by Dennis Jackson who was fouled on the play. His free-throw cut the lead to 32-19. With 3:54 left in the half. Hancock Central pulled to within eight 32-24 getting a three-pointer from Reaves and a follow-up hoop from Jones forcing Randolph-Clay to call a timeout.

Martavious Allen blocks this shot attempt by Rontavia Reaves from Hancock Central.

After the timeout it was time for the next episode of “The Show” this episode included a few friends and it went something like this: Cannon grabs a monster rebound and scores to make it 34-24, then Dukes makes a sweet assist to Allen for a dunk now it’s 38-26 then Allen drains a long jumper it’s 40-28….what a show…the episode ends with Cannon throwing down a dunk and Dukes drilling a three-pointer at the buzzer giving Randolph-Clay a commanding 49-28 halftime lead.

The “Bulldogs” Cordero Foster, Parks and Jones did a nice job on the boards and Reaves started to find his touch from the outside but against a powerhouse like Randolph-Clay it wasn’t nearly enough. The “Red Devils” finished this one off in the 3rd quarter when during one stretch “Don’t Hurt’em” Dukes hurt the “Bulldogs” bad scoring 9 straight points giving Randolph-Clay a 70-39 lead.

Hancock Central could have used a lot more of what 5-11 senior Andrayus Fluellen gave them in the 4th quarter when he went off for 13 points (including 3 three-pointers). Dukes rested most of the 4th quarter while Cannon finished off a big game scoring 6 points in the final stanza. Billy Smith a 6-6 senior for the “Red Devils” came in and did a nice job with a pair of hoops as Randolph-Clay went on to an awesome 84-54 win. They will now face the defending Class A Champions the “Warriors” from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy and their 6-4 All-State performer junior Javaris Crittenton who teamed with Cannon and Dukes last summer for the Atlanta Celtics AAU team.

Despite the loss the Hancock Central Cheerleaders had a good time.

 

Scoring Recap

Randolph-Clay

Shamaine Dukes scored a game high 31 points (5 three-pointers) to lead the “Red Devils” while Lancie Cannon finished with 26 points. Cornelius Price scored 9 and Martavious Allen chipped in with 8 points.

Hancock Central

Rontavia Reaves scored 15 points (3 three-pointers) to pace the “Bulldogs”. Andrayus Fluellen finished with 13, Dequarrius Jones 7 and Cordero Foster chipped in with 6 points.