The Calvary Cavaliers have done it again reaching the Division IV state championship. Calvary swung on the rapid round-the-horn three-point shooting of Martin “Tino” McDowell. McDowell led the Cavaliers with 17 points including five three-pointers. The Cavs also had to battle an oncoming Country Day Cajun comeback which whittled down the Cavs’ 17-point lead in the third quarter.
The referee whistle started early man’s Country Day went to the long shot as Moss nailed a three. Calvary shots would not fall until halfway through the first quarter. Martin McDowell nailed his first three-pointer. The Cajuns scored another free throw and Calvary’s scoring began to roll. The Cavaliers went on a 15-0 run that flowed into the second quarter. Kameron Kennon followed by Malaki Thomas and another Kennon three spurred the run. McDowell closed the first quarter and Calvary was up 14-5.
The Cavaliers continued into the second quarter. La’Bree Williams and Thomas finished out the run as Calvary was up to thirteen at 18-5. The two teams traded shots until two minutes left in the second quarter. Martin McDowell unleashed his three-point attack. Back-to-back threes including a buzz beater to close out the half with Calvary up 33-21.
The air attack from McDowell didn’t end at the half. The first points for Calvary in the second half was a three from McDowell. Country Day snuck in a bucket and a free throw for a three-point play. Kennon drew the foul and hit both. Kennon scored a layup and added a free throw. Calvary had their largest lead at 17 points. Country Day went to draw the fouls from Calvary. La’Bree Williams was charged with his fourth foul with 4:22 left in the third quarter. The Cajuns cut the lead in half on a 9-0 run. Thomas ended the run with a shot from behind the arc. Country Day added another four to end the third quarter only down 44-39. In the middle of the run, Country Day’s Jordan Trahan received his fourth foul.
Country Day scored quickly in the fourth followed by an Evan Nunez three saw the Cavalier lead vanish at 44-44 with 5:28 remaining. Two free throws by the Cajun gave them the lead for the first time since the first quarter. Williams popped a three to give the Cavs the lead back. The Cajuns retook with a pair of free throws. The fateful fifth foul came for Trahan. Williams tied the game with a free throw. Nunez’s jumper gave the Cajuns a lead at 50-48. Calvary went on an 8-0 run at the right time as they advanced to a state championship with the 56-50 win.
Martin McDowell led the Cavaliers with 17 points including 5 for 6 from three-point land. Kameron Kennon finished with 15. Malaki Thomas had 12.
Calvary will now face the No. 1 seeded Southern Lab Kittens (28-4) in their third consecutive state championship. The Kittens snuck past Hamilton Christian on three with three seconds left. Maybe the third time will be the charm for the Cavaliers.
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