For the second time in as many nights, Columbia’s Tharen Woodson calmly nailed the game-winning shot.
Friday night’s was a bit easier, but much, much sweeter.
Woodson slithered his way for a layup with 2.6 seconds left to knock off upset-minded Tylertown, 66-64, in the District 7-4A boys championship game at South Pike.
“I was thinking about passing it but I saw a lane open and just drove,” Woodson said. “(My teammates) are happy, and I’m happy.”
Woodson, who entered the game as Columbia’s leading scorer with 19.8 points per game, had quite a night with two points up until the final shot.
“He did it last night, which was big and he didn’t have his best game tonight … but he took it to the rack and came up big,” Columbia coach Tony Woody said.
Woody was referring to Thursday night’s performance when Woodson drained a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded in overtime to beat Lawrence County 89-87.
Jamarion McElven’s last-ditch effort from halfcourt fell short as time expired.
Columbia locked up the No. 1 seed from District 7, while Tylertown locked up the No. 2 seed.
The Chiefs host Quitman, the No. 3 seed from Region 5, on Tuesday.
“We had key turnovers at the end of the game and basically that’s what changed the game right there,” first-year Tylertown coach Jeremy Harrell said.
The Chiefs had 21 turnovers, including 14 in the second half.
In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, a pair of free throws by Tylertown’s Xavion Dillon tied it at 64 with 1:22 remaining.
Columbia held the ball at the top of the key for the final shot as Tylertown switched between a 2-3 zone defense and man-to-man. The switch left Woodson isolated on the right wing with an open path to the basket.
Jakkwon Alen led Columbia with 12 points and Torrian Lee and Jaboris Luter had 10 each.
McElven was Tylertown’s biggest weapon with a game-high 21 points. He was 5 of 6 from beyond the arc, which helped Dillon and forward Lorenzo Deans inside. Dillon had 14 points and nine rebounds and Deans tallied 11 points and 12 rebounds.
“(McElven) being able to shoot the ball from the outside opened up the defense for us to get the ball inside,” Harrell said. “I thought he shot the ball well tonight.”
Woody said he was impressive by Tylertown’s pesky play and overall effort. The Chiefs (19-9) are a much-improved version from the 2010 squad that went 5-17.
“Coach Harrell in his first year has done a great job,” Woody said. “They don’t quit. They stick with it and they stayed after it the whole night. I’ve been impressed with him.”
In the boys’ consolation game, South Pike edged Lawrence County 72-70 to clinch the No. 3 seed from District 7.
South Pike will travel to West Lauderdale on Tuesday for the first round of the South State tournament.
D’Querias Bullock scored 20 points for the Eagles and Deangelo Coleman had 19. Brandon Daniels continued his brilliant play with 30 points for Lawrence County, giving him 100 points for the tournament — 37 against North Pike and 33 against Columbia. David Haynes chipped in with 22 points.
