Lawton Mac Clings to Lead, Advances to Championship

The Highlanders were able to hold off the Millwood Falcons for a three-point win to advance to the championship game of the Carl Albert Titan Classic.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 6:04 pm

By: News On 6

Lawton Mac Clings to Lead, Advances to Championship

Originally Published: Jan 22, 2011 8:18 PM CDT

Jessica Coody
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Lawton MacArthur withstood a 10-point Millwood comeback in the final minutes of the semifinal matchup, holding on for a 63-60 win. With the victory, the Highlanders advance to the championship game of the Carl Albert Titan Classic.

Millwood led 33-29 at halftime, and after a back and forth third quarter, MacArthur’s Trace Cook hit a three in the final seconds of the third quarter to give Mac the 47-44 lead for good.

The Highlanders led by as much as 10 points, 54-44 with four minutes remaining, after Ondre Gaines scored a fast break layup.

But with just under two minutes left, Millwood cut the lead to three on a MacArthur turnover after Wayne Jackson scored on an offensive board, bringing the score to 58-55.

The Highlanders battle back, building their lead to five after two Quinton Paras free throws with 55 seconds remaining.

Just nine seconds later, Michael Ervin scored for the Falcons to cut it back to three, 60-57.

Paras would make 1-of-2 free throws, and MacArthur led 61-57 with 44 seconds left.

Millwood’s Brionnetae Irvin hit a 3 off the glass with 32 seconds left to cut the Highlanders lead to one point at 61-60.

MacArthur turned the ball over off the in-bounds pass, but Millwood couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball back over to MacArthur.

After a Millwood foul, Paras calmly sank two more free throws with just 8.3 seconds left to give MacArthur the 63-60 lead.

Millwood couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.

The Falcons were again shorthanded, missing both Josh Turner and Brandon Swindall due to football recruiting visits -- Turner to Texas and Swindall to Arkansas.

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Darius Graham scored 25 and Quinton Paris scored 19, combining for 44 of Lawton MacArthur’s 60 points.

Millwood’s Ervin was the only Falcon in double figures with 12.