Jaguars Claw Their Way to HTC Title

Ivan McDowell, Southeast/Mid-South Editor

Johnson wins epic, four overtime thriller

December 30, 2008 – Whenever North Huntsville rivals Johnson and Butler tangle it is always an intense, physical matchup. Monday night’s final of the 2008 Huntsville Times Classic was a rematch of last year’s championship game and was a contest that will go down in the annals of North Alabama high school hoops as a classic of its own.

Early on it looked as if Butler would cruise to its third consecutive HTC title when they burst out to a 9-1 advantage. This was fools gold however, as Johnson closed to within 13-8 at the end of the first period.

Johnson High wins the 2008 Huntsville Times Classic

After pushing the lead back up to eight, 20-12, to start the second, Butler then began to turn the ball over and Johnson took full advantage of the Rebel’s mistakes. A 7-0 spurt was sparked by two Josh Langford dunks and a Choquille Denson trey that closed the gap to one. Turning the game into a free-for-all was just what the doctor ordered for the Jags and the frenetic pace propelled Johnson to the 29-27 halftime lead.

Johnson’s man-child Aaron Davis imposed his will in the first half; using his impressive 6’6, 230-pound frame like a bull in a china shop. The senior forward scored 10 points and handed out four assists, despite being in constant foul trouble, in the first half. Butler Rebel super sophomore Trevor Lacy led Butler with 15 points in the half.

Johnson continued its hot shooting in the third quarter, seemingly knocking Butler on its heels. Eight quick points by Denson gave the Jags their biggest lead to that point, 36-29. Lacy went to work however and brought Butler right back with a flurry of jumpers and dribble drives to the hole. After the dust had settled the Rebels had completed an 11-0 run and regained the lead, 44-39.

The Jaguars then held an 11-6 advantage over the final eight minutes of regulation to tie it at 50-all and force overtime.
"The fourth quarter we only scored six points,'' Butler coach Jack Doss said after his team's 29-game winning streak going back to last season ended.

At the end of the first overtime Johnson was unable to get the ball to Langford (16 points, 12 boards, two blocks) and failed to score. They failed once again to feed the post and take advantage of their size in the second overtime, so the game remained tied. In the third overtime, Trevor Lacy’s defensive rebound and hit ahead to Dallas Jones (14 points) for two seemingly gave the Rebels control at 67-64, but the Jags wouldn’t die. After three free throws, two by senior guard Aquarius Rhodes (12 points) and one by 6’6 forward Antwon Jackson (13 points, 10 boards, three blocks), the game stood tied at 67. Jones missed a jumper at the buzzer and the contest headed into a fourth and final extra stanza.

Adrian McDonald, who played a key role with his hustle, length and defense played against Butler point guard Justin Pride down the stretch, slammed home the victory for Johnson when his dunk gave the Jags the lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Rhodes’ free throws with 34 seconds left marked the final margin and when Pride missed the first of two free throws at the charity stripe with no time left, Johnson celebrated their victory.

"Johnson played great defense. I don't want to take anything away from Johnson because they made one or two more plays than we did,” said Doss, whose Rebels are now 20-1.
Lacy led all scorers with 30 points and was 14-16 from the line. Ryan Ervin, who fouled out, chipped in 13.

In addition to Langford and Jackson’s double doubles, Choquille Denson and Adrian McDonald added 11 and 10 points respectively. With the win Johnson improves to 15-10.