Cave Spring Head Coach Billy Hicks was reveling in the moment. “I can remember when we only dreamed about being at this level, “Hicks said. “When I took over this program, I wasn’t sure we would ever get ONE state championship. Now, this group has won back-to-back titles. It’s unbelievable! I’ll never forget this achievement.”
The Knights defied the odds for the second straight year, defeating Brunswick 54-43 for the Group AA Division 3 crown at the VCU Siegel Center in Richmond Saturday afternoon.
For Brunswick it was their fourth consecutive year to finish as the runner-up, including last year’s loss to Cave Spring in overtime.
Brunswick Head Coach and UVa all-time scoring leader, Bryant Stith put it in perspective.”It’s so hard to get here,” Stith noted.” We’ve come so close.”
“Cave Spring should be complimented on the win,” he added.” They are well-coached and played a smart game.”
Brunswick employed a game plan that was no surprise for the Knights. Using a 2-3 zone defense, their objective was to shut down Cave Spring 6’11” center Josh Henderson with double teams and physical play in the paint. Henderson, who had torched New Kent in the semifinal with 31 points and 22 rebounds, was held to eight points by the Bulldogs.
But Cave Spring was not deterred. Like so many times in the past two seasons, the Knights looked to the remaining seniors to pick up the slack. They responded in championship fashion.
Clay Lacy scored 8 first quarter points including two baskets from behind the arc as Cave Spring led 13-11 at the end of the quarter, which was culminated by Justin White’s 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Brunswick opened the second with a 7-2 run and led 18-15 with 5:26 left. But the Bulldogs would not score again in the half as Cave Spring went on a 14-0 tear that included two more Lacy treys and six points by Henderson. The Knights went to the break up 29-18.
Brunswick gained the momentum in the third quarter as Cave Spring, hampered by turnovers, could not find the basket. A layup by Bulldog Shaquille Jones knotted the score at 31 as Brunswick outscored the Knights 13-2 in the frame and the Bulldogs looked ready to pounce entering the fourth.
As Cave Spring huddled at their bench, Hicks may have provided his greatest coaching moment. “Look me in the eyes,” he told his slightly rattled squad. Referring to the adversity, he added,” We’ve been here before.”
The Knights wasted no time in responding. Twelve seconds into the final quarter, Mark Overstreet found 5’11” Justin White alone in the left corner. White launched a bomb that seemed to take forever to succumb to gravity before falling through the net. Brunswick looked stunned ut they hadn’t given up. The Bulldogs pulled to within one on a Javonte Green dunk, but Cave Spring struck again as Quentin Dill hit Adam Hager with a pass behind the arc and Hager, who is second in career 3-pointers at Cave Spring behind J.J. Redick, lasered the twine.
Brunswick again responded with a Shaquille Jones layup. However,14 seconds later, Hager hit Erik Jacobsen who rattled in another long-range jumper to open a five point Knight lead. Brunswick never got closer than three the rest of the way and, forced to foul, could only watch as the Knights hit eleven free throws in the final 1:02 to seal the deal.
State titles rarely come sweeter.
Lacy had a game-high 21 points and 8 rebounds for Cave Spring. Casey Walker led Brunswick with 20 points, but was held to 9-for-27 shooting by Cave Spring defensive guru Mark Oversteet.
“This is something you dream about,” Lacy said after the game.” After Josh had that great game in the semifinal we knew others would have to step up. I got off to a good start which helped my confidence. Coach told me to keep shooting.”
“The second time was a lot harder than the first,” Lacy said of the back-to-back titles.”We were everybody’s target.”
Hicks agreed.”This shows the type of kids we have. They never gave up and didn’t panic after the third quarter.”
There are now twelve Cave Spring seniors, two state titles, and innumerable memories that no one associated with this team will ever forget.
By Bill Turner [email protected]
