Slow start dooms Benedictine

PETERSBURG - Outmanned in the paint and overwhelmed on the scoreboard, Benedictine could have opted to simply go through the motions in the second half of last night's Virginia Independent Schools Division I state semifinal against Blue Ridge.

After all, the Cadets already had achieved plenty this season by reaching the final four despite losing three standouts to graduation, including 2007-08 state player of the year and current University of North Carolina freshman Ed Davis.

But as he looked into the eyes of his players in the locker room at halftime, Benedictine coach Sean McAloon urged them not to give up their quest for a third consecutive state title without a fight.

"We forgot who we were in the first half," McAloon said. "We finally woke up and realized it was the state semifinals and made a game of it."

Trailing 41-20 at halftime, the top-seeded Cadets chipped away at the Blue Ridge lead and closed to seven when Darian Brothers hit three free throws with 4:31 left in the game. But the Barons, who squandered an 18-point lead in an overtime loss to Bishop O'Connell in last year's state semifinals, made enough plays down the stretch to secure a 74-63 victory at Richard Bland College.

Diminutive point guard Denzel Wilson, the shortest player on the court, scored nine of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter as Blue Ridge (22-7) advanced to face either Christchurch or Paul VI in today's 5:30 p.m. final.

Equally important, he made 8 of 12 foul shots on a night when his teammates converted only 7 of 19. The Barons' struggles from the foul line (1 of 7) in the third quarter helped Benedictine whittle its deficit to 11 heading to the final period.

"I've been doing this 15 years, and that's by far the most frustrating part, but what can you do?" Blue Ridge coach Bill Ramsey said. "I don't like to say too much, because I might jinx them or get them thinking about it too much. They know they have to make their free throws."

Blue Ridge hit shots from just about everywhere in the first half. Shredding a Benedictine press that proved critical in the Cadets' 57-41 win Feb. 20, the Barons made 10 of 14 field goal attempts in the first quarter and 17 of 28 (61 percent) by halftime.

Benedictine (19-10) kept pace by making five of its first six shots, but Blue Ridge broke a 12-all deadlock with a 17-2 run and appeared to be on its way to a lopsided victory.

The Cadets had other ideas.

"Coach told us he knew we had heart, we just had to show it," Brothers said. "All the guys knew we could come back. The last 13 minutes, we came out and played our game."

Brothers led the charge in his final high school game, finishing with a game-high 24 points. Erik Moody and Kevin Gill each chipped in 12 points, and R.J. Price added 11.

Center Darnell Turner scored 13 points for Blue Ridge and set the tone early with a pair of rim-rattling dunks. The Barons also got 11 from A.J. Williams and 10 from Luke Boras.

BLUE RIDGE (22-7)

Oliver 0, Wilson 23, Boras 10, A. Williams 11, Battle 8, Turner 13, S. Williams 4, Smith 3, Abele 2. Totals 28 15-31 74.
BENEDICTINE (19-10

Moody 12, Brothers 24, Gill 12, Connor 4, Lukish 0, Price 11, Thurston 0, Tiller 0, Pilot 0. Totals 22 15-24 63.
Blue Ridge ------------------------- 22 19 10 23 - 74
Benedictine ------------------------- 12 8 20 23 - 63

3-point goals: BR -Williams, Boras, Wilson. B - Gill 2, Brothers, Moody.