Police step in to calm coaches, fans in AC Flora’s OT playoff win over Marlboro County
Joshua Staley is not against a shot clock in high school basketball but the AC Flora coach was glad there wasn’t one Tuesday.
Staley had his team hold the ball for the entire four-minute overtime and the strategy helped the Falcons advance to the Class 4A Lower State championship. After Robert McCray, an AC Flora junior point guard, was fouled with 1.1 seconds left, he hit two free throws and then hit another after a technical foul was called on the Marlboro County bench as the Falcons went on to beat the Bulldogs 56-53 in front of a standing-room only crowd.
AC Flora will play Myrtle Beach on Friday at the Florence Center with the winner going to the state championship on March 7 at Colonial Life Arena.
“When I saw them in the 2-3 zone, I said, ‘let’s take one shot,’” Staley said. “Let’s not create opportunities for more fouls or the ball to bounce their way. Let’s just take the last shot and get up out of here.
“Rob followed the play to a T and that is what great players do. He put the game on his back and made the free throws.”
McCray, who finished with 20 points, had the ball in the final minute of regulation but opted to pass it and Markel Towsend missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. In overtime, the junior all-state selection didn’t give it up as he took it to the basket and was fouled by Marlboro’s Wesley’s Brown. It was Brown’s fifth foul of the game.
It was the second straight playoff game McCray had the winning basket. He hit a free throw and had a dunk in Saturday’s 52-49 win over Aiken.
“I was like I got to win this game,” McCray said. “There wasn’t any pressure. It was just another free throw. Took my time and won the game.”
Police step in the calm coaches, fans
Marlboro’s bench was livid over the call and was hit with a technical. Sheriff’s deputies and school officials had to restrain some of the coaches.
After the game, police had to restrain some of the fans on the court. The wild incident marred a fantastic atmosphere for basketball in which the gym filled up almost 30 minutes before the game.
“This is how they do it in Forest Acres,” Staley said. “We got the best fans, best student section and parents. They come and support us.”
Marlboro fed off its loud crowd’s energy and its athleticism, blocking shots left and right. The Bulldogs also used their athleticism to dominate the rebounds early on and led by as many as 12 points.
But Flora, like it did in the first two rounds of the playoffs against Aiken and Hartsville, battled back and took its first lead, 41-39 with 7:06 left, on Tyrell Green’s layup. Green had all eight of his points in the fourth. The Falcons extended the lead to 45-39 before Marlboro hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie it.
The Bulldogs led 53-50 but JB Moore tied it on a 3-pointer with 1:31 left. Moore finished with 16 points.
“We studied our opponents and Marlboro does a great job when they get up in the second half they blow you away,” Staley said. “But when they got up, we were able to withstand it. We didn’t have an easy game all year and that is what it prepares you for, games like this in the playoffs.”
Jameik McCoy led Marlboro with 15 and Brown had 14.
This story was originally published February 25, 2020 at 11:23 PM.
