For the third time this season, Woodberry Forest boys basketball and Collegiate went to overtime, this time in the Prep League quarterfinals.
Woodberry prevailed, winning 47-40 in overtime to clinch a spot in the Prep League semifinals and with the Tigers currently ranked 10th in the VISAA’s latest Division I poll, probably locked up a state tournament berth.
“It’s massive,” said Woodberry coach Craig Dawson. “It was great to be able to make the Prep League semifinals and (unofficially) the state tournament is huge.”
It took a lot of work for the Tigers just to get to overtime though.
“I think they were nervous to be honest,” Dawson said. “The kids knew today may solidify us in the state playoffs and it has been awhile since our program hosted a Prep League tournament game and I think they were nervous.”
The Tigers shook that nervousness off by early in the second half and unleashed a 22-12 run to close the game and tie it up at 40-40. Woodberry followed that with a 7-0 run in overtime to close out the game, locking down defensively down the stretch.
Max Johns was a huge part of that defensive effort with three blocks around the rim and he also scored Woodberry’s first eight points, carrying the load for the Tigers early on. He finished with 17 points including three 3-pointers and a 4-for-4 night at the charity stripe.
“Max was huge,” Dawson said. “And Calder Clay came off the bench and played great.”
Clay finished with 15 points including two 3-pointers in the fourth that both cut a four-point Collegiate lead down to one point.
Sophomore point guard Joe Foley finished with eight points, with four coming in overtime including the Tigers’ lone field goal in extra time.
The Tigers finished 10-for-13 at the free throw line.
Woodberry advances to the Prep League semifinals where they’ll face No. 1 St. Christopher’s on Friday at Trinity Episcopal. In the previous two meetings, Woodberry lost by six and lost by nine after leading in the fourth quarter.
“I think the biggest thing for us is to cut down on the fouling,” Dawson said. “They had 48 free throws in the previous two games.”
The Tigers will look to do just that against the Saints Friday night. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.
