3 takeaways from Goodpasture’s DII-A title win over CPA
Goodpasture (28-1) inked its name in championship glory Saturday afternoon by defeating Christ Presbyterian Academy (27-5), 60-50, to capture its first-ever Division II-A Boys State Tournament Championship. This was the Cougars’ second win over the Lions this season, as Goodpasture…
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Continue ReadingGoodpasture (28-1) inked its name in championship glory Saturday afternoon by defeating Christ Presbyterian Academy (27-5), 60-50, to capture its first-ever Division II-A Boys State Tournament Championship.
This was the Cougars’ second win over the Lions this season, as Goodpasture defeated CPA a week ago for the DII-A Middle Region Tournament Championship.
Here are three takeaways from the Cougars win.
Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN made clutch shots in the second half
The sophomore guard couldn’t get shots to fall in the first half, as he went 2 for 7 from the field. Goodpasture went into halftime down only 30-26, thanks to senior point guard Patrick Smith Jr.’s nine points and Jack Carter’s solid performance (seven points, five rebounds). West revived himself in the next 16 minutes, scoring 14 of his 19 points to keep the team afloat.
His second half surge was important as the Lions were double teaming and trapping Smith. West was able to get nice looks off ball screen action. The dagger from the Cougars came when Smith threw a touchdown pass to a wide open West for the two-handed, monster slam.
It was 56-50 for Goodpasture at that point, with all of the momentum on its side.
Smith, a Lee University commit, cooled off in the second half, going 0 for 3 from the field, which meant West had to get going before the game slipped away.
“They were looking more towards PJ, getting me a lot more opportunities to work, so I just took advantage of it,” said West, who also had eight rebounds and four assists.
West officially started cooking in the third quarter when CPA was starting to bridge the gap between both programs.
Junior guard Evan Shiflet (14 points) scored eight of the Lions’ 10 points. He scored four straight, which included a euro step to the rim, to give CPA a 38-33 lead.
West responded with five straight points of his own to give his team a one-point lead.
Before the Lions’ jab started, Cougars head coach Adam Sonn warned his team of what was coming.
“There’s no tomorrow,” Sonn said. “Leave it all out there, and they were going to be doing the same thing. But, when it gets this late in the season, the margin is razor thin, and you don’t know if it’s the first play of the game or something in the third quarter.”
Moore learned a lot from the season
Individually, junior wing Braeden Moore had an outstanding season. He was a DII-A Mr. Basketball finalist, but a state championship would have been sweeter.
In Saturday’s championship game, Moore didn’t shoot the ball well, scoring just five points on 2 of 6 shooting. The 6-foot-8 wing has already scored over 1,800 points in his high school career and will probably get to 2,500, if not more, before he’s done.
Going into the off season, Moore can reflect on the 2020 season in a positive way to prepare for his senior season.
“I definitely think I can get better, look over the things I need to work on, get back in the gym and get ready for next year,” Moore said.
Key returnees for CPA in 2021
The Lions will be moving up to DII-AA next season (basketball only). The good thing is that CPA will have key players returning. Moore, Shiflet, Jake Dykstra Jake Dykstra 6'3" | SF C.P.A. | 2022 State TN , Sam Smith and Kolby Wright will be seniors next season and will look to end the 2021 season with a state title.
Senior point guard Braden Zapp played his final game for the Lions on Saturday. His next stop will be Trevecca, and thanks to his head coach Drew Maddux, Zapp will be prepared to contribute right away.
“He taught me how to carry myself on and off the court, to always be confident and to be thankful,” said Zapp, who led his team with 18 points.
CPA is also losing key players Drew Cox and Jordan DeWalt.
All-Tournament Team
Tyler Byrd (Tipton-Rosemark Academy), Kameron Jones (ECS), Zapp, Smith, Shiflet and West were all named to the DII-A All-Tournament Team.
Jones was named this season’s DII-A Mr. Basketball Award winner.