Shannon Forest Middle School Boys Finish 2nd in CMSC Tournament!

          February 14, 2012 - The Shannon Forest Christian School (SFCS) Middle School Crusaders capped off a remarkable Basketball season last Friday at the Carolina Middle School Conference (CMSC). Shannon fell just short of another CMSC Championship, but they were able to make it to the final game placing them 2nd out of the eight conference teams.
          Last Tuesday, February 7, the boys welcomed Langston Charter their second meeting in a month. This was the 3rd time the two squared off this season and both of the previous meetings came down to the last few minutes. Tuesday's game was no different. This time, 4 quarters were not enough to decide the outcome. The Crusaders trailed by 7 points with less than 3 minutes remaining in the final quarter. It was at that moment that Will Maddox hit a 3- pointer from the top of the key. The action continued to go in favor of the Crusaders when a Warner Watkins steal led to a Graham Etheridge lay-up. The play ended with 2 Watkins free throws to tie the game. In overtime, both teams managed just two points until Braden Tuttle found Stephen Glenn alone in the corner with just 2 seconds left. Glenn only had time to catch and shoot with a taller defender rushing out to block the shot. With great poise, the second year player managed to get the shot off and over the lengthy defender to find the bottom of the net, completing the most dramatic comeback of the season for the Crusaders. Etheridge led the team in scoring with 13 points in the 34-32 overtime victory. 
          Tuesday's win set up a 3rd meeting between SFCS and the MRCA Eagles. The Crusaders had won both previous games and the Eagles were out for revenge. MRCA came out hot jumping out to a quick lead, but the under-sized Crusaders were not going to be denied and answered back with several tough baskets, narrowing the margin to 10-9 at the end of the first. The defensive intensity picked up on both ends of the floor in the 2nd half. The Eagles were unable to score and the Crusaders managed just 4 points to give them a 3 point halftime lead. The 3rd quarter led to another dramatic conclusion with Shannon leading by 19-18 to start the 4th. After increasing the lead back to 3 early in the quarter, the Crusaders pulled the ball "out" and began to allow their point guard Watkins to dribble some time off of the clock. This forced the Eagles to begin fouling much sooner than they would have liked and created a season record 20 free throw attempts in the 4th quarter. The team made good on 11 of the 20 earning as much as an 11 point lead before holding on to win 32-23. Watkins led the team in scoring with 12 and Tuttle added 8 in the victory. 
          Friday, February 10, the team headed back to St. Mary's for the much anticipated Championship game against the hosting St. Mary's Ducks. The Ducks finished the season undefeated and unchallenged in the Conference, creating a challenge for SFCS. Unfortunately, the Ducks came out hitting everything and the Crusaders stuggled to make a single shot. The Ducks surged out to a double digit lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Crusaders' season came to an end with a gut-wrenching loss 32-14 loss in the championship game. Watkins once again led the team in scoring with 6 points