It took an overwhelming performance from junior forward Tyce Jarvis.
A superior effort by sophomore Andrew Terry.
A fourth quarter, back to basics, from sophomore Austin Sears.
And two of those, whatever it takes for us to win from senior Dawson Gentry and junior Isaiah Rowlett.
Those all combined for a 73-66 triumph over the Clark County Cardinals last Thursday night at the MCHS Arena.
The victory gave the Tribe their second straight 40th District championship and sent them into this week’s 10th Region Tournament at Mason County with a chance to earn a second straight trip to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Sweet 16.
The Tribe had to overcome a 58-55 deficit in the final four minutes to improve their record to 17-12 and overcome two regular season losses at the hands of the Cardinals, who enter regional play this week with a 26-4 record.
Quick start
The Indians got off to a great start, leading by as many as a dozen points in the opening period before entering the second stanza with a 21-11 lead.
Terry, Jarvis and Rowlett combined for all of the points.
Terry hit a two-point, a three-pointer and had a three-point play while Jarvis hit a two, a three and a pair of free throws.
Rowlett sank back-to-back three-pointers along the way.
The difference in the second period was the play of Clark senior guard Malachi Ashford. He scored 11 of his 20 points in that second period so that Clark County stayed within striking range, trailing 35-26 at halftime.
The Indians held the high-powered Clark offense in check by dominating the glass, 23-10 in the opening half.
Clark recovers
The Cardinals came back to life in the third period, out-scoring the Indians 26-16 to take a one-point lead entering the final eight minutes.
The leader of the recovery effort was junior forward Montez Gay who scored 12 of his team-high 21 points in that third period when he went to work on the glass and scored in a variety of ways, including a three-pointer.
In the final eight minutes Clark County got out to a five-point lead at 51-46 and again at 56-51 but the Indians were relentless in getting to the backboards and forcing the Cardinals into foul situations.
Jarvis scored nine, Terry seven and Sears six in that final period while Clark County was able to connect on just one of six three-point attempts in those final eight minutes.
With Clark County leading 58-55, Terry drilled a three-pointer from the left of the key and the Indians were never behind again.
Jarvis drove for a layup and then hit a pair of free throws as the lead went to 62-58.
The Tribe went up by six points on two occasions but Clark stayed close and when sophomore Ryder Akins hit a three with 1:24 to play the margin was 69-66.
However, Clark County would not score again and Sears hit three of four free throws in the final minute to help the Tribe pull out to win 73-66.
Jarvis finished with 28 points and a dozen rebounds to lead the Tribe while Terry added 20 points, Sears 11, Rowlett eight and Gentry six.
Gentry was big on the glass in the opening quarter when he pulled down five of his seven rebounds.
While the Indians were dominant on the glass the Cardinals made up for that with only two turnovers while the Indians gave it up nine times.
Clark gets draw
Despite the Indians winning the district title it appeared that Clark County received the more favorable draw going into the regional tournament.
The Indians will open tournament play against Bracken County before meeting the winner of the Campbell County-Nicholas County matchup.
Clark County will be in a bracket with Pendleton County, Mason County and Scott High.
The 10th Region will be played at Mason County with opening round play Wednesday and Thursday nights followed by the semifinals next Monday and the championship game on Tuesday.
MCHS (73) — Austin Sears 3-9 5-7 11, Andrew Terry 6-10 6-6 20, Tyce Jarvis 10-16 5-5 28, Dawson Gentry 2-6 0-0 6, Isaiah Rowlett 3-7 0-0 8, Justin Hughes 0-1 0-0 0, Chase Sears 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-48 15-17 73.
Clark County (66) — Montez Gay 7-15 6-7 21, Ryder Akins 4-11 1-1 10, Malachi Ashford 8-14 3-4 20, JaMilyn Johnson 5-11 0-0 11, Amari Bartleson 1-4 2-2 4, C.J. Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Haddon Cecil 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-56 12-14 66.
MC 21 14 16 22—73
CC 11 15 26 14—66
Three-point field goals — MCHS 9-24 (Terry 2-3, Jarvis 3-5, Gentry 2-4, Rowlett 2-6); Clark County 4-13 (Gay 1-4, Akins 1-5, Ashford 1-3, Johnson 1-1). Rebounds — MCHS 40 (Jarvis 12, Terry 10, Gentry 7); Clark County 20 (Gay 7, Johnson 5). Turnovers — MCHS 9, Clark County 2. Total fouls — MCHS 12, Clark County 13. Fouled out — None.
MCHS 92,
Bourbon County 55
Sophomore Andrew Terry and Austin Sears led the way last Tuesday night at the MCHS Arena as the Indians advanced to the 40th District title game with a 92-55 win over the Bourbon County Colonels.
Terry poured in 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in just 23 minutes of playing time while Sears filled up the stat sheet in 22 minutes on the floor with 19 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, three deflections, two blocks and a steal, directing a Montgomery County offense that put 77 points on the scoreboard in the first three periods.
The Indians led 49-27 at the half and eight different players hit three-point shots for Montgomery County.
MCHS (92) — Austin Sears 7-11 2-2 19, Tyce Jarvis 4-7 4-6 13, Isaiah Rowlett 2-3 0-0 5, Dawson Gentry 4-5 2-2 12, Andrew Terry 12-18 3-3 28, Noah Routt 0-0 0-0 0, Brooks Bonfield 1-2 0-0 2, Chase Sears 1-3 0-0 3, Landon Crockett 0-0 0-0 0, Austin Hatton 0-1 0-0 0, Landen Wilson 1-2 0-0 3, Maddox Stevens 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 33-53 11-14 92.
Bourbon County (55) — Dylin Fields 3-7 2-3 8, Quinton Rice 3-7 1-2 7, Myles Heilig 0-5 0-2 0, Noah Earlywine 1-7 2-2 4, Mark Perraut 4-12 2-4 11, Zarion Snowden 5-6 4-4 14, Nash Wilson 1-1 0-0 2, Mali Buchanan 3-5 0-0 9. Totals 20-50 11-17 55.
MC 24 25 28 15—92
BC 12 15 11 17—55
Three-point field goals — MC 11-21 (A. Sears 3-6, Jarvis 1-2, C.Sears 1-1, Rowlett 1-1, Gentry 2-3, Terry 1-1, Wilson 1-1, Stevens 1-1); BC 4-12 (Buchanan 3-5 Perraut 1-1). Rebounds — MC 38 (Terry 13, A. Sears 6); BC 17 (Perraut 4). Turnovers — MC 8, BC 8. Total fouls — MC 10, BC 8. Fouled out — None. Technicals — None.
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