Keenan wins thriller over Ridge View at Chick-fil-A Classic

Keenan coach Zach Norris drew up several options as the Raiders huddled on the bench with 19 seconds on the clock and the Raiders tied with Ridge View at 62 in double overtime.

One of the first options transpired when the teams returned to the floor and Raekwon Horton drove the left baseline and laid it in with less than three seconds remaining to give Keenan a thrilling 64-62 victory over the Blazers in a matchup of the top two programs in the state.

“We noticed we had some mismatches going on,” Norris said. “Raekwon and Dillon (Jones) are both guards, so they had to bring their big guys out to guard those guys in the open court. When go he caught that last pass, you could see he was sensing that. He was smiling from ear to ear as he took it to the rack.”

Horton was just playing in the framework of the offense.

“We were running the offense and being patient and I saw an opportunity, so I wanted to make the most of it,” Horton said. “It was a great team win. I feel like it’s a stepping stone and helped us mature and brought us together more.”

It gives Keenan, the top-ranked team in Class 3A, a measure or respect against Ridge View, the defending Class 4A champions and current top-ranked team.

“It’s a big win for us because we’re trying to earn some respect,” Norris said. “We’re 15-0 and the kids have been working hard so you can start to see it pay off. Ridge View has a good team and I think we were able to keep them in check on making the three’s. This was a big, big win for us.”

Horton scored a game-high 23 points. Dillon Jones, the Raiders other combo guard, added 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Both teams put on an athletic display with highlight reel dunks and buzzer beaters that didn’t disappoint the large crowd on hand. The Raiders trailed for the entire first half and didn’t take their first lead until a Horton 3-pointer in the middle of the second half. They stretched the lead to as many as seven, but Ridge View wouldn’t go away.

The Blazers fought back and tied it at 55 on Crosby Harris-James layup with five seconds remaining in regulation to force the first extra period. Harris-James, who had team-high 15 points, forced the second overtime period when he connected on a deep 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the first overtime.

Both teams struggled offensively in the final extra period before Horton took the final shot.

Malcolm Wilson, the Georgetown signee, added 10 points, six rebounds and six blocks in the loss. Cincere Scott scored all of his 12 points in the second half.

Keenan will face Dorman in an American Bracket semifinal on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. Ridge View plays the loser of Thursday’s Roman Catholic (PA) and Independence (NC) on Friday at 8:00 p.m. in the auxiliary gym.

Dorman 56, Gray Collegiate 44

GC – Tommy Bruner 17, Jalil Robinson 10, K. Robinson 6, Deloach 4, Gortman 2, Rhone 3, Jeffcoat 2. D – Myles Tate 20, PJ Hall 14, Cooper 9, Desor 6, Renwick 2, Long 3, Burgess 2.

Keenan 64, Ridge View 62 2 OT

RV – Crosby Harris-James 15, Cincere Scott 12, Malcolm Wilson 10, Benson 9, Rice 5, Anderson 4, Napper 4, McKie 2, McKenny 1. K – Raekwon Horton 23, Dillon Jones 18, Price 8, Taylor 8, Sanders 5, Morris 2.

Westwood 68, Blythewood 53

B – Tre Jackson 27, Thompson 8, Williams 4, Phillips 6, Range 4, Moore 2, Manuel 2. W – Russell Jones 28, Ta’Jay Dunlap 13, Tyrell Huff 11, Lewis 5, Green 2, Horn 4, Wormack 5.

Hartsville 74, York Prep 55

H – Trae Hannibal 23, Cesare Edwards 19, Alvin Cuffie 17, Capehart 6, Pendergrass 3, Blue 2, O’Neal 2, Harry 2. YP – Deuce Dean 20, Isiah Benjamin 18, Bowie 9, Barksdale 7, McCullough 1

Greenforest Christian (GA) 68, United Faith Christian (NC) 60

GC – Nathaniel Brown 19, Lamar Oden Jr. 17, RJ Nord 14, Fussell 9, Cook 5, Achor 4. UFC – Josh Massey 20, Ford Cooper 11, Morris 9, Johnson 7, Cortez 7, Thompson 6.

Thursday’s schedule

Roman Catholic (Pa.) vs. Independence (NC), noon (Main gym)

Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) vs. St. Benedict (NJ), 1:30 p.m. (Main gym)

Salesian (Calif) vs. Norcross (Ga.), 3 p.m. (Main gym)

x-Westwood vs. United Faith Christian, 4:30 p.m. (Aux gym)

Holy Spirit Prep (Ga.) vs. Bella Vista Prep (Ariz.), 4:40 p.m. (Main gym)

x-Lower Richland vs. Lakeside, 6 p.m. (Aux gym)

Sunrise Christian (Kan.) vs. The Rock (Fla.), 6:10 p.m. (Main gym)

x-Blythewood vs. Hartsville, 7:30 p.m. (Aux gym)

Memphis East (Tenn.) t vs. St. Frances Academy (Md.), 7:40 p.m. (Main gym)

This story was originally published December 26, 2018 at 10:25 PM.