Ladaris Green with the Kryptonite 16 points.

Gwinnett Arena – Norcross, GA

Kut Opening: I would open up the article like usual with stats about both teams and who are the key players. Why? There is no need, everyone knows about Wheeler but not about Beach. So let me tell you about Beach and how it went down.

The Bulldogs would jump out on a 7-2 run on a lay up basket from Muse Abdullah for Beach, followed by a quick basket by Whitman Keith and a three-pointer by James Field to start the game. The Bulldogs would look to have things headed in their direction until J.J. Hickson threw down a dunk and coach Doug Lipscomb called out the 1-3-1 press.  Hickson would then go on to score a period high 8 points, followed by 6 points from senior guard James Florence and Wheeler would close the first period out on top 20-17.

Beach would lead the majority of the second period with solid bench play and points in the lane by senior Greg Thomas. Wheeler would commit 6 turnovers in the second period and get in the foul penalty to keep the Bulldogs on top going into the half 33-27. The Bulldogs Brian Smith would get a quick steal right before the half and go in for 2 points, putting the Wildcats in the hole by 6 points.

After the half, the Bulldogs would score the first 2 points of the period on a put back by 6’9 junior Ladaris Green 35-27. Beach would go on a 8-4 blitz to move the score 41-31 with 2:50 left in the third period, capped off by a free-throw from super sophomore James Fields to push the lead to double digits. Wheeler would answer as L.A. say “Kut the storm coming”. The storm would come at the buzzer as Wheelers Williams Corley would drain a three-pointer to get the Wildcats back in it only down by three points 43-40 at the end of the third period.

In the fourth period “Oh my goodness”, Greg Thomas would jump from outside and power dunk on Wheeler to give the Bulldogs a 9 point lead 49-40. In the final minutes Wheeler would commit 5 turnovers and Beach would score on every one of them. With 49.7 seconds left in the game, Wheeler would have to foul and Beach would pull the upset of the year.

Final Score: Beach 72 Wheeler 64

Scoring Recap

Beach

Ladaris Green 16 points (8 in fourth period), James Field 14 points, Greg Thomas 12 points, Whitman Keith 8 points.

Wheeler

James Florence 16 points, J.J. Hickson 15 points 4 Blocks, Corey Tower 12 points and Trey Lang 9 points