Third-quarter run seals Aucs' fate

COLUMBIA — A close game at halftime turned into a one-team highlight reel in the final 16 minutes of the Class 2A boys state championship.

Unfortunately for Mullins, the Auctioneers weren’t the main attraction.

SLIDESHOW

Morning News photographer Angela E. Kershner catches all the action from the sidelines of the game at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.

Outscored 20-9 in the third quarter, Mullins found itself in a hole too deep to climb out of against the defending state champs as Southside cruised to a 72-47 victory Saturday at Colonial Life Arena.

“We wanted to take the lead and spread them out and make them chase us,” Mullins coach Mark Gerald said. “But they were able to expand on the lead and spread us out instead. They were able to make every pass all night, and they were just the better team today.”

“Once they had the momentum, it was hard to overcome that,” Mullins guard Eric Smith said. “They started getting on a roll in the third quarter and it just went bad from there.

“They just outplayed us in every part of the game.“

Southside wound up with five players scoring in double figures. The Tigers’ size advantage against the Aucs played a part as Southside had four players at 6-foot-4 or taller.

“That’s why we wanted to spread them out,” Gerald said. “We couldn’t matchup with that size. They’re all very athletic and can make the jump shot, too.”

The Tigers turned much of the second half into their own personal slam-dunk contest. Southside had six of them, including two tomahawk jams from Marlin Butler and one from Robbie Dreher after he bounced the ball back to himself off the glass.

Butler finished with 14 to lead the Tigers followed by Dreher and Quinton Thomas with 13 apiece.

Mullins was led by Stacy Wilson’s 18 points. Smith and Greg Nelson followed with 11 each.

Nelson’s 3-pointer in the second quarter that briefly turned the tide in the Aucs’ favor. Trailing 19-10, Nelson’s shot was the first from long range for Mullins. Wilson followed with his own 3-pointer a few plays later and Nelson’s second of the quarter brought the Aucs back within 22-19.

“We started to play better in the second quarter,” Smith said. “We hit down a couple of shots and the crowd started to get into it. We made a couple stops on defense, and we were right back in the game.”

Southside’s 8-0 run to start the third quarter quickly erased any momentum Mullins might have had, though.

The Tigers routinely got behind the Aucs’ defense on breakaways and earned a lot of easy baskets in transition.

“We don’t have too much depth, so I think some of ours were a little tired there in the second half,” Gerald said. “But they played a great game. My hat is off to them.”

Mullins finishes the season at 22-4 a year after falling one game short of the state championship and a perfect season.

“It was a good year,” Gerald said. “The kids really worked hard and overcame a lot to get back to this point. I hate it that we didn’t play one of our better games, but they’re a strong group and they’ll rebound from it.”

SOUTHSIDE 72, MULLINS 47
Southside (72)
Rhodes 11, Irby 12, Dreher 13, Butler 14, Thomas 11, Franklin 2, Hudgens 2, Hunt 3, Jones 4.
Mullins (47)
McFarland 2, Smith 11, Wilson 18, Nelson 11, Crawford 2, Cooper 2, Dantizle 1.