When miscues pile up in a playoff game, elimination is more than likely.
Midland Classical built a 14-point lead in the first half of their TAPPS Boys 3A State Tournament area round matchup against Plano Coram Deo on Feb. 22 only to watch it slip away in a flurry of turnovers, allowing the visitors to make it a game.
According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, it was the Knights' seniors who helped the No. 2-ranked program get over the early doldrums on the way to an emphatic 63-35 win over the Lions.
“I thought we played hard in the first half, but Plano just took advantage of our turnovers and mistakes which led to them getting back into the game," MCA head coach Ron Miller told the publication postgame. "In the second half we started to lock down on defense and cut down on the turnovers which led to good things for us offensively. But there’s a lot for us to improve on as we move forward.”
Seniors Cort Miller and Hagan Berridge combined for 37 points and were hugely instrumental in cementing a regional berth for MCA in the fourth quarter, the Midland Reporter-Telegram reported.
Miller led all Knights scorers with 19 points, with Berridge contributing 18 of his own.
The Knights, who played the game in Midland, flew out of the gate in the first quarter.
They were in the driver's seat until late in the second quarter when the Lions capitalized on their hosts' mistakes to whittle the score to 22-19 at the half, the Midland Reporter-Telegram reported.
On the other side of the break, MCA found itself up by just a point.
According to the publication, Luke Elliott's presence in the paint woke the Knights up in the third quarter.
Miller and Berridge then seized the momentum by making shot after shot to create another comfortable lead for MCA heading into the final frame.
The trio essentially turned the fourth quarter into a shooting clinic.
As of this writing, the Knights waited on the winner between Denton Calvary Academy and Dallas Lakehill Prep School.