By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
LEXINGTON — The only opponent that held the Campbell County boys basketball team to less than 50 points during the regular season did it again in the quarterfinal round of the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16 state tournament on Friday at Rupp Arena. This time, however, the Camels came away with a 49-42 win over Walton-Verona and advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in the history of the program.
In the earlier game between the two teams, Walton-Verona defeated Campbell County, 54-48, on Jan. 18. The Camels won the rematch at Rupp Arena even though they shot just 34.9 percent (15 of 43) from the field, had 14 shots blocked and committed 12 turnovers.
“It was because of our defense,” said Campbell County coach Aric Russell. “We held them to a lower number of points for the longest period of time.”
In the final 31 seconds, the Camels secured the victory by drawing fouls instead of committing turnovers against the Bearcats’ full-court pressure and then going 6-for-6 at the free throw line.
“At the end, we just had to hold on,” Russell said. “They were coming out with a lot of pressure. We handled the pressure and made our free throws and were able to hold on.”
Campbell County (31-4) will play Louisville Trinity (28-8) in a state semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Walton-Verona finishes with a 28-7 record after making its first state tournament appearance since 1942.
Walton-Verona never led in Friday’s game. After falling behind, 13-7, in the first quarter, the closest the Bearcats were able to get was three points. The team’s only double-figure scorer was 6-foot-10 senior center Dieonte Miles, who had 10 points to go along with 12 blocked shots and five rebounds.
Walton-Verona coach Grant Brannen said the Camels were much more physical with their man-to-man defense than they were in the earlier game and that disrupted his team’s offensive plans. The Bearcats ended up shooting 42 percent (15 of 35) from the field and had only two second-chance points.
“I think the big thing too was we got down early in the game,” Brannen said. “We were clawing our way back through out the game. We missed a couple shots that let them get a bit of a lead. It was a tough mountain to climb, but we almost got there.”
Campbell County took its biggest lead, 21-9, on a basket by substitute forward Andrew Helton with 2:55 left in the second quarter. But Walton-Verona closed the half with a 9-2 run that ended with senior guard Garrett Jones hitting a 3-point bank shot that made the halftime score 23-18.
At the break, Walton-Verona had eight turnovers and only seven field goals. The Bearcats kept the game close by blocking eight shots on defense with Miles rejecting seven of them. That had a lot to do with Campbell County shooting just 26.9 percent (7 of 26) in the first half.
Miles blocked five more shots in the third quarter and Jones hit another 3-point buzzer-beater, but the the Camels were still on top, 38-31. Campbell County senior forward Noah Wirth had six points, three assists and two rebounds during the third quarter.
“He was huge in that stretch,” coach Russell said of Wirth. “He was just making the plays we need him to make, and that’s what you’ve got to do. You have to have guys step up and help you win at this point in the season.”
Walton-Verona turned up its defensive pressure in the fourth quarter and kept the Camels from scoring on eight straight possessions. But the Bearcats made only two free throws during that stretch and trailed, 43-35, with 3:50 remaining.
“I thought our defensive game plan was good,” Brannen said. “When we started going with our trap we got some steals and got some turnovers on them. We just couldn’t convert at the other end.”
The Bearcats were 4-for-8 at the foul line in the fourth quarter when they needed every point they could get. They were also unable to force a turnover in the final seconds and had to foul. That’s when the Camels made their last six free throws to clinch it.
The leading scorer for Campbell County was senior forward Reid Jolly with 13 points, followed by senior forward Tanner Lawrence with 12 and senior guard Drew Wilson with 10. Jolly pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds with 11 coming on the defensive glass. The Camels finished with a 29-24 edge in rebounds, even though the Bearcats had a height advantage with Miles under the basket.
“I wasn’t hitting my shots so I was doing everything I could for the team,” Jolly said. “Hitting the boards was something we really needed with their size. I take pride in my rebounding. It’s just that hustle factor that I’ve always been taught and it’s something I bring for every game.”
Lawrence scored 12 of his team’s 18 points in the paint during the game. The Camels started spreading out on offensive sets to draw Miles away from the basket and Lawrence was able to get some layups.
“A lot of our stuff is scored that way and we needed (Miles) away to try and help our chances to score,” coach Russell said.
It was a tough loss for the five senior starters who led Walton-Verona to its first-ever state tournament victory earlier in the week. But they have no reason to hang their heads.
“I think we were playing our best basketball up until here and we just fell short tonight,” said senior Ethan Brook. “But, this season, you couldn’t dream of this. This is something every high school basketball player could ever want. This is a special opportunity.”
WALTON-VERONA 7 11 13 11 — 42
CAMPBELL COUNTY 13 10 15 11 — 49
WALTON-VERONA (28-7): Pardee 3 3 9, Miles 4 2 10, Jones 2 1 7, Bonne 3 1 7, Grubbs 2 1 7, Brook 1 0 2. Totals: 15 8 42.
CAMPBELL COUNTY (31-4): Jolly 3 5 13, Lawrence 6 0 12, Wirth 2 1 6, Wilson 1 8 10, Gross 2 0 6, Helton 1 0 2. Totals: 15 14 49.
3-point goals: WV — Jones 2, Grubbs 2. CC — Jolly 2, Gross 2, Wirth.
Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys Sweet 16 State Tournament
at Rupp Arena, Lexington
Saturday
Campbell County (31-4) vs. Louisville Trinity (28-8), 7:30 p.m.
Scott County (34-3) vs. Warren Central (21-11), 9 p.m.
Sunday
Championship game, 2 p.m.