C1S1 BKB: Rebels get revenge on Reindeer in convincing fashion

ESSEX – A year ago, the Richland (Essex) boy’s basketball squad was riding the euphoria of winning the first MSHSAA Class 1 District 2 District title in decades and promptly went out in the Sectional round and lost to Clarkton 47-44.

The 2023-24 version of the Rebels didn’t allow that missed opportunity to have a chance of happening again on Tuesday, as they handed the Reindeer a 48-33 loss in the MSHSAA Class 1 Sectional 1 at Richland (Essex) High School.

“We were patient (offensively),” fifth-year Richland (Essex) coach Matt Cline said after the win. “Clarkton did a good job of sloughing off of us and we forced a lot of shots in the first half. In the second half, we got a little more patient.”

The Rebels (23-7) dominated the opening period by limiting Clarkton (10-19) to just six points, as the hosts led 15-6 early in the second quarter. However, the Reindeer got eight points in the second period from super senior scorer Amauri Gorman to pull to within 22-16 at the break.

“He has really become a more complete player,” third-year Reindeer coach Cole McBroom said of Gorman.

The slim guard scored all six of Clarkton’s third-period points and finished with 14 points, however, the offensive balance of Richland (Essex) was simply too much, as Cline’s team built a 35-22 margin early in the final quarter.

“(Richland) has two really good bigs, who are athletic, in (Tucker Hughes and Eric Williams),” McBroom said. “While we have (junior) Clayton Godsey and (sophomore) Caleb Godsey, who work as hard as they can, they just aren’t as athletically gifted as those two.”

Williams scored eight of his 14 points in the second half while Hughes battled a sprained right ankle all game and finished with 10 points.

Holding a comfortable margin late, Richland (Essex) pulled the ball out and tried to run some clock off while Clarkton was forced to come out and pressure the Rebels. That opened a lot of space for drives into the paint from Rebel sophomore Gary Tilley, who scored a game-high 21 points.

“We really struggled to guard that (isolation) penetration,” McBroom said. “(Rebel players) (Hayden) Conner, (Hunter) Sanders, and Tilley did a good job of cutting off Williams and Hughes whenever we had to help.

That was just good players making good basketball decisions.”

The Rebel defense limited Clarkton to just 12 makes, three of which were from beyond the arc. Conversely, Richland (Essex) tallied 19 baskets, with Sanders hitting an early 3-pointer for the only long shot by the Rebels.

Reindeer junior James Johnson put in nine points in the loss.

Clarkton closed the season having won three consecutive games prior to Tuesday to earn its third straight Class 1 District 1 title.

“Congratulations to Coach Cline,” McBroom said. “He’s done a really good job with these guys.”

Richland (Essex) will travel to Chadwick High School to play the Cardinals (26-3) on Saturday in the Class 1 Quarterfinal 1 at 5 p.m.