Thunderducks Get Past Eastfield in OT Sequel, Move on to District Championship

TAVEN WASHINGTON INTERVIEW

IRVING, Texas – It took overtime to decide another high-stakes, big stage game between these two teams. And for the second time in a week, Dallas College Richland prevailed.

Richland beat Dallas College Eastfield, 86-82, in overtime in Thursday night's National Junior College Athletic Association Division III South Central District semifinals at Dallas College North Lake. In the final regular season game on Saturday, Richland got past Eastfield, 86-83, in overtime.

These teams are getting used to this.

"Yeah, just a little bit," Thunderducks sophomore guard Taven Washington said with a smile. "We struggled a little bit with the pressure, but we're always able to adjust, able to deal with it. We knocked some big shots down down the stretch, and got some big stops when we needed 'em."

The win sends the eighth-ranked Thunderducks (16-8) on to Saturday's 2 p.m. championship game against host North Lake (25-4). It will be a repeat of last year's district title game, which the Blazers won.

Richland led throughout the first half, taking a seven-point lead into the break. The Thunderducks maintained the lead for the first 6:05 of the second half until Eastfield's DQuarius Burton hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Harvester Bees a 53-51 edge. Omarion Durr scored on an underneath feed from Dwayne Reliford, and Delkedric Holmes made two free throws to put Eastfield (18-14) ahead, 57-51.

Thunderducks guard Cjay Ingram sank two free throws to end an over five-minute scoring drought, and Washington hit a jumper in the paint with 9:29 left for Richland's first field goal in roughly seven minutes to pull back within two.

"They definitely turned up the pressure to start the second half," said Washington, who finished with 18 points. "We just had to adjust. We were able to fight through it. It's a game of runs. They went on their run. They hit some tough shots. We had a couple bad possessions, but we were able to turn around in the end, starting finding the holes. We hit some big shots, we were able to get some big stops, able to get a few steals, able to get out in transition. I think that's what really turned the game around."

Josh Williford converted on an uncontested breakaway after a Richland turnover to put the Harvester Bees up 59-55. But Nehemiah Jones' basket tied it, and Zion Bourgeois scored in transition one possession later as the Thunderducks reclaimed a 61-59 lead. Washington sank two free throws with 4:45 remaining to put Richland back up, 72-65, before Holmes scored two quick baskets to cut it down to three. Following a turnaround jumper in the paint by Washington, Eastfield's Dezmon Dudley hit a floater, and then buried a triple with 24.1 seconds left to tie it at 74-74, forcing overtime.

Following a pair of Rodrick Yarbrough free throws in overtime that gave Richland a four-point cushion, Javen Hutton canned a 3, pulling the Harvester Bees within 78-77 at the 2:51 mark in overtime. Washington hit another turnaround to push it back to a three-point game, and Ingram scored on a driving layup to make it 82-77. After Reliford threw down a dunk, Ingram scored on a leaner to bump the lead back to five. Hutton hit another triple to cut it to 84-82, but Washington sank two free throws with 7.7 seconds remaining to seal it.

The Thunderducks hit 11 of 12 free throws in the second half and all four in overtime. Ingram was 6-for-6 from the stripe, finishing with 15 points. Richland was 28-for-34 at the line.

Yarbrough had 13 points, DeWaun Mims and Bourgious each added eight. Holmes finished with 23 points, and Dudley had 18. Jamaari Greene had 13 for Eastfield.

Richland fell to North Lake in the district championship a year ago, and twice during the regular season this year. To be exact, the Thunderducks have dropped five straight to the Blazers, dating back two seasons. Washington says the Thunderducks are ready to write a different script this year.

"I think it's going to be a good game," he said. "They're a good team. We're trying not to lose to them three times. I think we're ready to go get 'em."