In our second semifinal of the night it was South Shore (Brooklyn, NY) that overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to defeat four time King of the Bluegrass Champion Ballard. It was a pair of early turnovers by Ballard that got things going for South Shore who took as early 5-0 lead in the opening minute of play. Ballard tied the game at 7-7 on a three-pointer by Terrence McDaniels but the Vikings stingy defense forced turnovers on each of Ballard's next two possessions to push back ahead 12-7. It was an old-fashion three-point play the Bruins' Rashad Bishop that finally pulled them back even at 17-17 in the final minute of the opening quarter. Three minutes into the second quarter the Ballad run totaled 16-2 as the Bruins were firmly in control at 28-19. A three-pointer by South Shore's Kareem May pulled the Vikings within 8 points but they never got any closer in the first half. A 12-6 spurt for Ballard in the final three minutes sent them to the locker room with a 47-33 lead. South Shore opened the second half on a dominant 15-6 run cutting the Ballard lead to 53-48 four minutes into the third quarter. The Bruins reeled off six straight points including a three-pointer by McDaniels to extend their lead back to double-digits at 59-48. South Shore took complete control of the final 2:30 of the third quarter outscoring Ballard 11-2 to trail just 62-64 entering the fourth quarter. Less than thirty seconds into the final quarter Dante Spencer's three-pointer would give the Vikings a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Midway through the final quarter the Bruins used six straight free throws to tie the game one final time at 70-70. It was a 12-4 South Shore run punctuated by an Anthony Latty dunk in the final seconds that gave the Vikings the 82-74 victory and their first trip to a King of the Bluegrass championship. Ballard was led by Walter Johnson Jr. with 25 points. Terrence McDaniels added 13 points for the Bruins. South Shore was led by Femi Odukale with 16 points, Kadary Richmand with 15 points and Isaiah Richards with 14 points.
Up Next
- South Shore will play Collins in the Championship Sunday at 7:30pm.
- Ballard will play Trinity in the 3rd place final Sunday at 6:00pm.
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