Morgan beats Bessemer

Published 12:00 am Monday, February 14, 2005

MONTGOMERY – Morgan Academy fans watching their Senators play on Saturday night may have needed to close their eyes, shake their heads and do a double take.

The Morgan defense took on a completely new look and the offense welcomed back an old friend as the Senators beat the Bessemer Academy Rebels, 71-60, in the AISA Class 3A State Tournament at Faulkner Academy.

The Senators advance to the AISA Class 3A Final Four beginning next Friday at Huntingdon College. Morgan Academy will take on Cottage Hill. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m.

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The win marks the first trip for to the Final Four for the Senators under third-year coach Walker. The Senators had lost in the first round of the regional tournament the past two seasons.

Morgan Academy switched from its 1-3-1 zone defense in the second period to a triangle-and-two, in which the guards were brought up front to help defend against Bessemer Academy’s perimeter shooting. The Rebels had gone on a 17-0 run in the second period to take a 24-11 lead. Walker said it was the first time this season his team had gone to the triangle-and-two defense.

“We had practiced it all week,” Walker said. “We knew we were going to have to use it.

“They were killing us with their outside shooting,” Walker added. “Everything they shot was hitting.”

With Morgan leading 11-7, the Rebels took it to the Senators. Bessemer came away with a handful of steals and connected from the perimeter while hitting the offensive boards. Freshman center C.J. Echols pulled down an offensive rebound and sank a 15-foot baseline jumper to put the Rebels up, 13-11.

Bessemer’s run grew in the second quarter, as guard Toviris Rooks’ three-pointer from the top of the key made it 22-11. Point guard Martez Nalls chipped in a driving lay-up to push the cushion to a baker’s dozen, 24-11 with 6:08 left in the first half.

The final basket initiated a Morgan timeout in which Walker made the defensive switch. It also was the end of the line for the Rebels.

Morgan Academy slowly crawled back into the game. Reid Buster’s jumper from the left wing cut the deficit to 24-17 with 3:59 before intermission.

The Rebels stretched the lead back to nine, 29-20, but the Senators again fought back. Eric Pilcher drove the baseline for a quick lay-up. Reid Tolar followed with an offensive board and jumper from the top of the key to make it a five-point game. The Senators took the momentum with them into the locker room after Pilcher hit a running lay-up around two defenders to cut the margin to 29-26 at halftime.

The teams battled in a seesaw third period in which the Rebels came away with a slim 42-40 advantage. That’s when the Morgan offense welcomed back an old, long-absent friend.

Tolar took a bounce pass and drained his first of three 3-pointers in the period, this one from the top of the key, to give the Senators a 43-42 lead. Tolar finished with a team-high 23 points, including four 3-pointers in all. He added seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.

“I made a lot of (threes) last year,” Tolar said. “I’ve been struggling with them. It’s been pretty bad.”

Tolar said he had a feeling his outside touch was returning after he sank a pair of three-pointers in this year’s regional. But he never expected this.

“They finally showed up,” Tolar said of the three-pointers. “I hope they come up for the Final Four.”

His second three-pointer of the fourth period put the Senators ahead 51-42. Bessemer cut into the Morgan lead and got to within 51-47, but Tolar sank the final dagger with another three from the top of the key to stretch the lead back to seven.

Jeremy Smith chipped in 16 points for the Senators, including three free throws in the final minute to seal the win. Smith also had eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.