Tip off @ 1 p.m.
FIRST QUARTER
Slow start for both teams. 0-5 shooting combined, 3 TOs, Score 0-0 1:30 into the action
Chad Simmons opens the scoring with a 3 from the wing, Bruton leads 3-0
Bruton heating up, leads 9-0 after Doucet and-one layup followed by Lonnie Swinton 3-pointer
Doucet answers with another strong layup as Bruton jumps out to a 11-0 lead….Panthers defense also looking strong as Spotswood 0-6 shooting, 3 TOs to start the game
Another Panthers’ steal leads to Marcus Carter dunk at the other end. Bruton leads 13-0 with 3:32 left in 1Q
After Spotswood finally gets on the board (13-2), Simmons finishes strong inside, plus the foul, to put Bruton up 16-2 (2:49 left in 1Q)
Spotswood’s Hyrum Weiler beats the buzzer with a corner 3, Bruton leads 18-7 after 1Q
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SECOND QUARTER
Bruton ahead 24-11 with 4:06 to play in first half after Carter cleans up his own miss inside followed by a Doucet floater.
Josh Lasam wing 3 caps off 7-0 run for Spotswood as the Trailblazers cut Bruton’s lead to single digits, 25-16
After Weiler makes 1 of 2 from the line for Spotswood, Carter buries 3-pointer from top of the key to stretch Bruton’s lead back to double digits, 28-17 with 2:04 to play in half
Lasam wing 3-pointer followed by Heiler layup brings Spotswood back within 8 (30-22), but Swinton answers right back with nice move inside. 32-22 Bruton.
Tucker McCoy knocks down Spotswood’s third 3-pointer of the quarter a Blazers trim the lead to eight, 32-24 (45 seconds remaining)
After Swinton 2 of 2 from the line, McCoy drains a pair from the stripe with 4 seconds to go in 2nd period. Bruton leads 34-27 at halftime.
Halftime leaders: Bruton- Swinton 9 pts, Doucet 9 pts, Carter 8 pts. Panthers swiped 10 steals in the first half while holding Spotswood to 8-25 shooting during the first two quarters. Weiler leads Spotswood with 10 pts, 6 rebounds.
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THIRD QUARTER
Second half under way
After Spotswood cuts the lead to five (36-31) on back-to-back mid-range jumpers, Swinton buries 3 from wing to put Bruton ahead 39-31
Teams having no trouble scoring to open the second half. 18 combined points in the first 3 minutes of the third.
Khalil Davis’ corner 3 brings Spotswood within 3, 41-38 with 5:03 left in 3Q. 11-7 run for Blazers to start second half
Doucet answers with corner 3 of his own to give Bruton some breathing room, 44-38
After McCoy steal and pull-up (46-41), Jacob Garber hits 1-2 from the line as Spotswood trails 46-42 (2:37 to play in 3Q)
Another costly Bruton turnovers leads to easy layup for McCoy as Bruton lead down to two, 46-44
After Wallace strong turnaround in the paint (48-44), Simmons crashes offensive glass, converts and-one stick-back to put Panthers ahead 51-44. Big momentum changer there.
Mike Sangalang cleans up missed shot inside for Bruton to put Panthers up 53-46 with at the end of 3Q
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FOURTH QUARTER
Doucet 2-2 from the line, Sangalang stick back…Bruton leads 57-48.
Things getting physical as Spotswood’s Garber whistled for flagrant, Wallace connects on 2-2 from the line to stretch Bruton’s lead to 59-48.
McCory buries deep (and clutch) 3 from the wing to bring Spotswood within eight, 59-51 with 6:21 left in regulation. Shaping up to be a good finish as Panthers look to hold on.
Spotswood in the penalty the rest of the way (5:40) as Carter heads to the line for 1 and 1….
Carter sinks both, Bruton leads 61-52.
Three turnovers in last four possessions for Bruton, Panthers still lead 61-55 with 3:45 to play.
Weiler capitalizes on Bruton’s last turnover with inside bucket as Blazers climb back within four, 61-57.
After Ethan Rice puts Bruton ahead 63-57 on 2-2 from the FT line, McCoy pulls up for HUGE 3-pointer (his 2nd of the quarter) as Spotswood cuts the lead to 3, 63-60 with 2:41 left to play.
McCoy feeling it. After Bruton miss, McCoy slashes to the rack, fouled, hits 1-2 as Spotswood trails 63-61 with 2:36 left in regulation.
Spotswood’s Justin Kier ties the game (first time all game) with tough layup. 63-63 with 2:15 to play.
Carter fouled, hits both free throws to put Bruton up 65-63. 1:42 left on the clock.
K. Davis answers with a pair for Spotswood, game tied 65-65.
Bruton coughs up costly turnover, results in Spotswood taking first lead of the game, 66-65, after Kier hits 1-2 from the line.
With 1:08 to play, Swinton fouled on corner 3-pointer, knocks down 2-3 to put Bruton back on top 67-66
Spotswood answers right back, takes the lead, 68-67, off Nicely’s turnaround elbow jumper with 45 seconds to play.
With 37 seconds left, Bruton re-takes lead of two big free throws from Simmons. Panthers ahead 69-68.
Spotswood takes lead with 15 seconds left in the game on Kier’s inside finish. Kier’s scored all 7 of his points in the 4Q
Carter’s fallaway baseline jumper clanks off rim @ the buzzer…
FINAL SCORE: Spotswood 70 Bruton 69
Check back for a full story later this evening.
Group AA Division 3 Boys Basketball Semifinal
Who: Region III champ Spotswood (27-1) vs. Region I runner-up Bruton (25-5)
When: Tuesday, March 5 1 p.m.
Where: VCU’s Siegel Center (Richmond)
