White Knoll’s win over Dutch Fork shakes up the region on the last day of the season
White Knoll saw its playoff chance change in a matter of 30 seconds.
Jalen Jennings hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds left to give the Timberwolves a 56-53 win over Dutch Fork on Thursday.
White Knoll’s victory, coupled with River Bluff’s 50-48 win over Lexington, shakes up the Region 5-5A standings on the final day of the regular season and forces a pair of tiebreaker games Saturday at Irmo High School.
The Timberwolves play Lexington at noon for third place and the final automatic playoff spot while Dutch Fork plays River Bluff for the region’s top spot. shortly after the first game. Both Dutch Fork and River Bluff are guaranteed first-round home playoff games when the postseason begins next week.
“We had every reason down the stretch to quit but we stayed the course,” White Knoll coach Devin Liferidge said. “We lost games in this region like that. I am proud of the character of our kids. We came through and Jalen Jennings made a heck of a shot. He is our senior. He is our leader and that is what he should do.”
Eric Williams led White Knoll with 13 points and Jennings had 11.
Dutch Fork, which was seeking its first region title since 2003, trailed 50-46 with 2:15 left. But Houston Jones hit a 3-pointer to put Dutch Fork up 53-52. Jones finished with a team-high 14 points.
Dimarco Johnson had 11 for the Silver Foxes.
Free throws hurt
Leading 53-52, Dutch Fork had a chance to extend the lead. The Silver Foxes missed the front end of 1-and-1s with less than a minute left. The second one led to Jennings’ go-ahead basket.
Dutch Fork was 4-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Timberwolves defense
White Knoll’s defense came up big in the fourth quarter. They held the Silver Foxes scoreless for more than three-minutes and forced two turnovers, including one on the final play of the game to seal the win.
At-large still in play
The loser of Saturday’s White Knoll and Lexington game might not be out of the playoff hunt. The losing team still can get an at-large spot. The Class 5A committee meets this weekend to determine who will get it. White Knoll is 16-10 and Lexington is 14-11.
Boys
WF: JalenJennings 11, Stone 2, Evans 7, Ray 7, Curry 4, Eric Williams 13, Johnson 5, Rumph 7. DF: McLurkin 1, Knight 4, Houston Jones 14, Green 8, Dimarco Johnson 11, Danley 4, Renner 6, Smith 5.
Girls
White Knoll 42, Dutch Fork 41
DF: Davenport 2, Butler 2, Brown 6, Samara Brennan 13, Kori Peterman 16, Offings 2. WK: Jenkins 2, Singleton 6, Roberts 6, Jasmine Jenkins 18, Evans 2, Henderson 6, Phelps 2
This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 10:50 PM.
