Dorman rallies to claim Chick-fil-A Classic tournament title
Dorman coach Thomas Ryan has seen his team in a lot of different situations over the past three seasons when the Cavaliers were storming to three consecutive Class 5A state championships.
But Monday night in the championship contest of the American Division of the 18th annual Chick-fil-A Classic, Ryan felt the need to prod Clemson signee PJ Hall that he needed to be better in the second half if Dorman was avenge a loss from the Chick-fil-A finals from a season ago.
Hall responded in a big way with 15 points and 11 rebounds as the Cavaliers rallied from eight points down in the second half to claim a 56-52 victory over Greensboro Day (NC). Dorman is the first SC team to win a tournament title since Hammond in 2015.
“PJ didn’t play well in the first half and I told him point blank, ‘you’re hurting us,’” Ryan said. “He came back the second half and was dominate. He had a different passion about his game. He was outstanding in the second half.”
Hall, the Most Outstanding Player in the American Division, had eight points in the second half but more importantly he collected eight of his 11 rebounds after the break. His sequence that began with around five minutes remaining was the spark that ignited Dorman (8-1). He scored six points on offensive rebounds that gave the Cavaliers the lead for good.
“He did (fussed) a little bit, or a lot I guess,” Hall joked. “He basically told me I needed to be better and came out and did my job.”
It was nip and tuck from the beginning. Neither team led by more than two points in the first half and there ended up being 13 lead changes and seven ties.
Greensboro Day (14-2) turned a one-point halftime advantage into a 35-27 lead with just less than 12 minutes remaining. Hall tied it with a stick back with just over six minutes left. Hall assisted on a basket by Most Valuable Player Myles Tate.
Dorman’s lead grew to as many as eight, but Greensboro Day pulled within two, 54-52, on a 3-pointer by N.C. State signee Cam Hayes with 16 seconds remaining. Jalen Breazeale sealed it with two free throws with 12 seconds left.
“We were down (eight) and came back and won,” Ryan said. “That’s some resilience there. I was very proud of our guys. That was a big, big win for us. We had to make some shots. I thought we showed a will to win so I was really proud of the guys.”
“It’s a national tournament and for us to do this for our state shows what kind of basketball you see in day in and day out. It’s huge.”
Justin Amadi led Dorman with 18 points.
“It was a well fought game,” Ryan said. “Greensboro Day is outstanding. They’ve has been a perennial power nationally and we knew it would be a one or two possession game and that’s what it ended up being.”
In the National Division title game, Hillcrest Prep (AZ) only trailed in the opening minutes in cruising to a 55-44 victory over No. 8 ranked La Lumiere (IN).
The Bruins (11-2) led 29-17 at halftime and forged ahead by as many as 17 points in the second half. Hillcrest Prep closed the first half on an 11-3 over the final 6:01 to claim control. The closest the Lakers (9-1) got in the second half was six points, 39-33, but could never draw any closer.
Mike Green earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors after posting 13 points and 10 rebounds in the title game. Makur Maker, playing in just his third contest with the Bruins, also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Keon Edwards chipped in with 11 points. Maker was a member of the All-Tournament Team.
Wendell Green, a member of the All-Tournament Team, led La Lumiere with 14 points. Kamari Lands added 12 points and Denham Wojcik chipped in with 10 points.
American Division
Monday
Gray Collegiate 66, Travelers Rest 65
TR – Derrick Fields 25, Case Roach 18, Sam Brown 11, Ware 5, J. Brown 3, Hellams 3. GC – Latavian Lawrence 18, Taurus Watson 17, Chase McDuffie 10, Roger 8, Allen 3, Howell 2, Shuler 2, Wallace 2, Barnes 2, Kelly 2
Greenforest Christian 48, Keenan 41
K – Raekwon Horton 18, Gortman 7, Jones 6, Barrino 4, Echols 2, Oree 2, Gibson 2. GF – Lamar Oden 17, Christian Fussell 13, Forrest 9, Cook 5, Smith 2, Thon 2.
Third place game
Immaculate Conception (NJ) 59, Cannon School (NC) 54
CS – Elijah Ormiston 15, Jarvis Moss 14, Jaden Bradley 13, DJ Nix 10, Hill 2. IC - Zion Bethea 14, Donta Marsh 12, Zakai Zeigler 10, Brown 9, Marshall 8, Marsh 6.
Dorman 56, Greensboro Day (NC) 52
D – Justin Amadi 18, PJ Hall 15, Breazeale 9, Tate 8, Surratt 4, Burgess 2. GD – Cam Hayes 20, Williams 7, Pierce 6, Trevey 6, Harris 5, Bailey 5, Young 3.
American Division All-Tournament Team
Lamar Oden (Greenforest Christian)
Latavian Lawrence (Gray Collegiate)
Raekwon Horton (Keenan)
Cam Hayes (Greensboro Day)
Bryce Harris (Greensboro Day)
Most Outstanding Player – PJ Hall (Dorman)
Most Valuable Player – Myles Tate (Dorman)
National Division
Monday
Word of God (NC) 75, Ridge View 54
RV – Cincere Scott 18, Ja’Von Benson 14, Jaden Kennedy 11, Smith 5, Jenkins 4, Spraggins 2. WG – Chase Forte 24, Quandre Bullock 15, Isaiah Todd 12, Po’Boigh King 11, Keith 9, Nwosu 4.
Legacy Early College 51, Westtown (PA) 49
LC – RayShon Harrison 14, Isaiah Cornish 12, Braylan McInntyre 12, Jacobi Wright 10, Priestley 3. W – Jalen Wright 19, Frank Kepnang 11, TJ Berger 9, Q. Berger 6, Lively 2, Chiddick 2.
Prolific Prep (CA) 58, Huntington Prep (WV) 52
PP – Jalen Green 24, Jordan Pope 19, Gigiberia 8, Cisse 4, Wtezel 3. HP – Jaemyn Brakefield 15, Brayon Freeman 14, Ndiate 6, Loveday 6, Hoggard 5, Cottrell 4, Mbaye 2.
Hillcrest Prep (AZ) 55, La Lumiere (IN) 44
LLS – Wendell Green 14, Kamari Lands 12, Denham Wojcik 10, Sochan 4, Ivey 2, Thompson 2. HH – Makur Maker 15, Mike Foster 13, Keon Edwards 11, Terry 9, Johnson 5, Cobb 2.
National Division All -Tournament Team
Ja’Von Benson (Ridge View)
Jaemyn Brakefield (Huntington Prep)
Makur Maker (Hillcrest Prep)
Jacobi Wright (Legacy Early College)
Wendell Green (La Lumiere)
Most Outstanding Player – Jalen Green (Prolific Prep)
Most Valuable Player – Mike Green (Hillcrest Prep)
This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 11:45 PM.