A.C. Flora boys come up clutch in Greenville, advance to title game

A.C. Flora coach Joshua Staley calls James Reese the best shooter in the state.

Reese backed up his coach’s praise as he buried the game-winning 3-pointer with 14 seconds left to lift A.C. Flora over Seneca 56-52 on Friday in the Class 3A Upper State championship.

The Falcons advance to their third straight state title game and will face Midland Valley next Saturday at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s title game won by the Mustangs.

“He is the best shooter in the state and I have been telling him that since day one,” Staley said. “I knew he was going to make it the whole time he shot it.”

Reese, who finished with nine points, wasn’t so sure.

“I didn’t know it was going in but I just shot it with confidence like my coach always tells me to do,” Reese said. “I just wanted to get a win for my team.”

It was Reese’s second big moment for the Falcons this week. He blocked the potential game-tying shot in the final seconds of Tuesday’s 55-51 win over Berea.

Reese’s shot capped a frantic final minute of play. The Falcons took a 51-49 lead on Brandon Davis’ free throw with 54 seconds left.

Seneca took the lead on its next possession as Tristen Hudson hit a deep 3-pointer to put the Bobcats up 52-51 with 24 seconds left.

Instead of calling timeout, Flora pushed the ball up the court as Kendale Hampton drove the ball into the lane and kicked it out to Reese on the right side. The junior guard calmly drained the shot with a hand in his face.

The Bobcats had a chance to win, but missed on a 3-point try and Thomas Hollingsworth grabbed the loose ball and threw it to Deshawn Thomas, who capped off the game with a slam.

“Summer, spring and fall – that is when these games are won,” Staley said. “I’m happy for them. Seneca is unbelievable. They are probably one of the highest skill set teams I have faced in 15-20 years of coaching. They made us dig deep to have us come out with an opportunity to win.”

Hampton led Flora with 19 points, and Thomas had 12 rebounds.

Hampton got the Falcons started on the comeback. He hit a 3-pointer as the Falcons, who trailed by seven points in the third quarter, went on an 18-3 run in the third quarter to lead 40-36 at the end of three.

Class 3A Player of the Year Xzavier Barrmore led Seneca with 17 points.

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 11:19 PM.