Keep it right here to follow Grafton’s boys basketball team as they take on Salem in the Group AA Division 4 state championship game tonight at 9 p.m. at VCU’s Siegel Center in Richmond.
The Clippers clinched a spot in the state title game for the second straight year after defeating E.C. Glass 51-48 in overtime of Wednesday’s state semifinal.
We’ll provide live updates during the game, and have a full game recap with reaction along with photos and video highlights later tonight.
Group AA Division 4 State Championship
Who: Region I Champion Grafton (28-2) vs.
Region IV Runner-Up Salem (20-8)
When: Saturday, March 9th, 9 p.m.
Where: VCU’s Siegel Center in Richmond
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Game underway…
FIRST QUARTER
Grafton jumps out to 7-0 lead on Jesse Santiago jumper, Elijah Moore stick-back followed by Moore 3-pointer from wing.
Two buckets apiece from 6’5, 280-pounder Alex Light and 6’5 Matt Hill cuts Grafton’s lead to 14-8 with 2 min. left in opening quarter
After Moore’s beautiful hanging double-clutch jumper, Hill hits 2-2 from the line for Salem as Grafton leads 16-10 after 1Q
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SECOND QUARTER
Back-to-back 3s from Salem’s John Repass and Troy Mann tie the game at 16-all with 4:43 to play in first half
Evan Sperling baseline jumper ties the game 20-20 with 1:30 left in half.
E. Moore no shots, 1 turnover during 2Q so far
McMillan fouled on elbow jumper, hits 1 of 2 free throws to put Grafton on top, 21-20, with under a minute to play in half
Five quick points from Salem – Repass 3-pointer from the corner followed by Mann’s layup with 3 seconds left – gives Spartans 25-21 lead at halftime.
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HALFTIME STATS
Grafton- Moore 9 pts (all in 1Q), 2 rebounds; Santiago 6 pts, 4 reb; Sperling 3 pts, 3 reb. Shooting 9-23 (1-6 3PT)
Salem- Hill 10 pts, 6 reb; Light 4 pts, 4 reb. Shooting 10-22 (3-9 3PT)
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THIRD QUARTER
Back-to-back buckets inside from Light stretches Salem lead to 29-21 as Clippers struggling to handle the big man inside
Not much offense, 4 straight turnovers, as Spartans still lead 29-21 with 5:30 to play in 3Q
Slight momentum change- Grafton forces Salem into two-straight turnovers, first leads to Moore steal and layup to cuts deficit to 29-23.
McMillan fouled, sinks both attempts as Clippers trail 29-25.
After Santiago and Mann exchange layups, big 3-pointer from Moore trims Grafton’s deficit to 1, 31-30
Light cleans up inside to put Salem ahead 33-30 with 1:20 left in 3Q
After McMillan goes 1-2 from the line, Hill and-one finish gives Spartans 36-31 lead with 40 seconds left in period.
Salem leads 36-31 heading into final quarter
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FOURTH QUARTER
Moore, Grafton offense stagnant to open 4Q… 0-5 from the floor as Salem leads 40-31
McMillan nice drive and finish, Clippers trail 40-33 with 4:45 left in 4Q
Grafton having trouble keeping Salem bigs off the glass as Light cleans up another Miss to put Spartans up 42-33.
Moore, Salem’s Mann exchange free throws, Spartans lead 45-35 with 3:30 to play
After Moore pulls up and buries 3 from top of key, Salem’s Mann hits 2-2 from the line. Spartans lead 47-38 with 2:25 to play in regulation.
Light hits 2 of 2 from the line, then Santiago connects from long range. Salem ahead 49-41 with 2:05 left in 4Q
Moore tough shot off the glass cuts lead to 51-43, then Hill hits 1 of 2, Salem leads 52-43 with 130 left
Moore misses 3 PT attempt, Hill hits 2 of 2 to give Salem 54-43 lead with under a minute to play. Grafton will have to play the foul game and see what happens.
Joey Miller 3-pointer from the corner makes it 55-48 Salem witht 27.7 seconds left with Spartans’ Mann heading to the line for 2.
Mann 1 of 2, Salem leads 56-48.
Miller misses both free-throw attempts for Grafton, but Moore collects o-reb and is fouled, then misses both. Salem lead still 56-48 with 12.5 seconds left.
