Saxony Lutheran pulls historic upset over No. 3 South Pemiscot

sports@standard-democrat.com

BLOOMFIELD -- For the first time since joining the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament in 2010, Saxony Lutheran advanced to the championship semifinal round.

And it took an upset against a fellow undefeated team to do it.

The Crusaders continued its unbeaten streak following a 52-43 win over third-seeded South Pemiscot during the night cap Monday at Bloomfield High School. It was the fifth and final upset, as far as seedings go, out of eight second round games.

Sixth-seeded Saxony Lutheran (10-0) will play No. 2 Kennett tonight at 8:30 p.m., for a chance to make the tournament's championship game for the first time in school history.

"We executed our gameplan," Saxony Lutheran coach Kevin Williams said. "We watched (South Pemiscot) play on Saturday and we watched some game film on them. Our plan was to keep our feet on the 3-point line and they were going to have to beat us with the three. We wanted to make sure they worked for everything they got inside."

It took a second half push, but the Crusaders finally got the best of the Bulldogs, who suffered its first loss of the season.

A stepback 3-pointer from Kevin Burton gave South Pemiscot a 24-22 lead at halftime. The Bulldogs (9-1) grabbed its biggest lead of the night at five points after another Burton 3-pointer to open the third quarter, but three and a half minutes later Saxony made its move behind a burst from one of its sophomores.

Down by three with 2:54 left in the third quarter, Graesen Meystedt went on a run of seven-straight points to give Saxony a 38-34 lead. Meystedt scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the third quarter and gave the Crusaders a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

"That's the same thing he does every night," Williams said about Meystedt's personal run. "He'll miss three or four shots in a row and all of a sudden turn it on...We've got three or four guys that can shoot the ball. On any given night each one of them could get going."

Saxony's Corie Williams, who finished with 12 points, added a 3-point play to push the Crusaders ahead by seven with just seven seconds remaining in the quarter. A bucket by Jabari Herron cut South Pemiscot's deficit to 41-36 before the final frame.

South Pemiscot pulled within four twice throughout the last four minutes. Steven Wilbourn's bucket with 2:46 remaining made it 47-43 Saxony, but that would be the last points the Bulldogs put on the board as the Crusaders finished the rest of the quarter 5 of 6 from the free throw line to close out the win.

Burton finished with 18 points behind five 3-pointers to pace South Pemiscot, who drops into the fifth place bracket where they'll play No. 7 Hayti at 5:30 p.m., tonight. Freshman Dominique Hardimon, who led the Bulldogs with 18 points during their first round win, was held to two against the Crusaders.

Saxony Lutheran will take on second-seeded Kennett tonight at 8:30 p.m., during the championship semifinals.

Saxony Lutheran 8 14 19 11 -- 52

South Pemiscot 10 14 12 7 -- 43

SAXONY LUTHERAN (52) -- William Rogers 14, Keevin Dykes 2, Nathan Ruark 3, Graesen Meystedt 14, Corie Williams 12, Jalen Williams 7. FG 15 FT 16-23 F 13. (3-pointers: Rogers 2, Meystedt 2, C. Williams 1, J. Williams 1. Fouled out: none.)

SOUTH PEMISCOT (43) -- Dorion Jones 2, Logan Damesworth 3, Mike Smith 4, Kevin Burton 18, Dominique Hardimon 2, Steven Wilbourn 8, Jabari Herron 6. FG 15 FT 8-13 F 20. (3-pointers: Burton 5. Fouled out: none.)