Campbell beats JFK to meet Irish
The Red Devils blew a late lead but survived on Tommy Hall's goal to gain the district final.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SALEM -- The nip-and-tuck and down-to-the-wire struggle between Campbell Memorial and Warren JFK Wednesday night in a Division III district semifinal had all of the elements of a classic high school basketball game at Salem High gym.
It had a late spurt to break open a close game as Campbell built a six-point lead with two minutes left, 52-46.
It had a late rally as Warren JFK capitalized on Red Devils' turnovers and reeled off seven unanswered points to take a 53-52 lead with 27 seconds left on Tashawn Walker's tap-in.
It had a quick comeback as Campbell regained the lead on Tommy Hall's put-back, 54-53, and then got Ryan Burton's two foul shots with 13 seconds left for a 56-53 command.
And it had Marc Rossi of Warren JFK attempting a tying 3-point goal near the buzzer.
But Rossi's shot failed to fall and the Red Devils, with a 56-53 win, advanced to Friday's district final against Ursuline for a berth in the Canton Regional.
Turnovers almost ruin bid
"The turnovers almost doomed us," said coach Brian Danilov of Campbell (20-2), whose team took its 52-46 lead on Terrance Phillips' 3-point goal. "I always said the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins. We both were throwing the ball around like dodge ball."
Danilov was glad that Hall came through with what turned out to be the game-winning points.
"He has been with the team for three years but this is his first varsity year. It's good to see a kid like that do good. He really hustles after loose balls," said Danilov, who also had kind words for Burton and his two clutch free throws.
"He has be playing three years. He is a very serious-minded kid." And, "Burton hit a couple of big 3s."
After Hall put Campbell ahead, Trey Soares came up with the biggest steal of the game with 17 seconds left that set the stage for Burton's two foul shots.
"Soares made a great save," said Danilov, noting the Soares excels in all areas of play. "Soares had a couple of big steals and rebounds. Soares fill all area of the statistics."
Soares led Campbell with 13 points while Burton and Jermainne Richardson had 12 each and Phillips eight with also eight rebounds.
Richardson had 10 of his points in the second half to help keep Campbell in contention, including a pair of baskets that gave his team a 47-41 lead, while Soares' two foul shots made it 49-44.
JFK wouldn't quit
Coach Shawn Pompelia of Warren JFK (19-4) said his team was able to rally at the end because of "determination and will," but, "We didn't block out Hall [on his go-ahead tap-in]. He had the put-back. Then we don't get a key rebound. But that's basketball."
An he blamed Soares' steal on that fact that, "We tried to get down the floor too fast, too aggressively."
However, Pompelia was glad that his team had a good chance to tie it at the end.
"We feel the right guy [Rossi] had the ball at the right moment. The ball just didn't fall."
Pompelia also was happy the way his team performed with two starters -- Walker and Stephan Flannigan -- playing with injuries. Walker played with a cast on his broken hand, but still finished with 11 points; while Flannigan saw only light duty because of an injured ankle, and had only one point.
"We needed a healthy team to beat Campbell," Pompelia added.
J.J. Townsend led JFK with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Rossi added 11 points and Desmar Jackson 10.
kovach@vindy.com