Stags down Gators 69-64 to set up playoff showdown | Sports | Berkeley Independent

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Stags down Gators 69-64 to set up playoff showdown

Published Tuesday, February 07, 2012 11:27 AM

By Dan Brown
Berkeley Independent

Photo Provided

Matthew Bryant scored 18 points in the Stags’ 69-64 win over Lake Marion.

Photo Provided

Omaine Thomas scored 21 points to lead Berkeley to a 69-64 win over Lake Marion.

The Berkeley Stags kept their playoff hopes alive by downing region-leading Lake Marion 69-64 to set up final week showdowns with Hilton Head and Cane Bay.

The Stags and Seahawks are locked in a tie for fourth place in Region 7AAA with identical 3-5 marks.

The winner of Tuesday’s tilt would lock up the fourth and final playoff spot as the Class 7AAA playoffs begin this month.

Game results were not available at press time. See the Independent’s website for details.

For Stags coach Joe Wallace, the playoffs effectively began on Tuesday. “We are taking the approach that our first playoff game is Tuesday night against Hilton Head,” Wallace said. “Even though it's actually a regular season game, if we don't come out with the victory, our playoff hopes are done.”

Berkeley put together its best effort of the season in downing Lake Marion on Jan. 31 and set up the showdown with Hilton Head for the final region playoff spot. The win knocked the Gators out of first place in Region 7AAA.

The Stags lost to Bluffton 64-38 on Friday night to set up the Hilton Head showdown.

“As I have told my guys for the last week and a half, we have to concentrate and focus on ourselves,” Wallace said. “It’s not so much what our opponents do, we have to do what we do, but do it better than we did it that last time. We have to rebound, box out, protect the basketball, make our free throws, play great defense, and score with the basketball; that’s what we have to do regardless of what the other team does.”

Omaine Thomas led the Stags with 21 points on the night including four 3-pointers. Matthew Bryant added 18 points and Rashaun Hutchinson 11 to help pace Berkeley.

For the Stags, it comes down to Hilton Head. A win against the Seahawks puts Berkeley in the playoffs.

“This is a big week for us as a team,” Wallace said. “If we do what we are supposed to do, when we are supposed to do it, and how it’s supposed to be done on the court, we’ll make the playoffs.”

The Stags missed out in 2010-2011 and for Wallace a playoff berth would be a great way to cap off his first season as coach. “We have to take it one game at a time,” he said. “We must take care of business at Hilton Head Tuesday night.”

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