North Alabama claims 2013-14 GSC Tournament Crown - Mar 10, 2014
The North Alabama Lions won the 2013-14 GSC Tournament Title at the Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Ala., on Sunday.
Christian Brothers entered the game having appeared in the GSC Title game for the third-straight season, while this was North Alabama's first appearance in the championship since 2000.
The first half was in North Alabama's favor as it built a lead and kept it the entire half. UNA set its biggest lead of the game at the 6:33 mark when it went up by 15. CBU managed to cut the lead down to 11 at one point, but the Lions took the lead into halftime, 39-26. Sidy Sall (CBU) and Rashaun Claiborne (6'4''-G-90) led all scorers at halftime with eight points each.
Christian Brothers came into the second half on a mission. The Bucs, in a pivotal point in the game, cut the lead down to two by the 12-minute mark on two big Cory McArthy (6'2''-G) free throws, but UNA posted a 6-0 run to go back up, 56-48, with nine minutes to go and built another 12-point lead with five minutes to go.
CBU would once again cut into the deficit with four minutes to go. Trey Casey (6'3''-G) drilled a big three and, after a steal, Sall would throw down a dunk, UNA 65, CBU 57, at that point. CBU again put the pressure on when it pulled within three with two minutes to go, but thanks to two Claiborne free throws, UNA increased the lead back to five. Despite numerous, valiant comeback efforts from CBU in the second half, UNA in the paint was too much. Final score: UNA 79, CBU 73.
Claiborne dropped a game-high 28 points, pulled down eight boards and got four steals in the game. Bruce Adams scored 17 with four rebounds for UNA. Green (15), McArthy (16), Casey (11) and, with a team-high 17 points, Sall, all scored in double figures.
Courtesy of GSC
GSC Tournament Final: North Alabama - Christian Brothers 79-73
GSC Tournament Semifinals:
North Alabama - Valdosta State 88-79
Christian Brothers - Delta State 67-64
Casey |
|
Readus |
|
Schmidt |
|
Claiborne |
|
Raymond |
|
All-Tournament MVP:
Rashaun Claiborne (6'4''-G-90) of N.Alabama
Player of the Year:
Willie Readus (6'7''-F) of Delta St.
Freshman of the Year:
Devin Schmidt (6'4''-F) of Delta St.
Coach of the Year:
Jim Boone of Delta St.
1st Team
G:
Trey Casey (6'3''-G) of Christian Brothers
F:
Willie Readus (6'7''-F) of Delta St.
F:
Devin Schmidt (6'4''-F) of Delta St.
G:
Rashaun Claiborne (6'4''-G-90) of N.Alabama
PG:
Desmond Raymond (6'0''-PG-90) of W.Alabama
2nd Team
G:
Wayne Dedrick (6'2''-G) of Al.-Huntsville
F:
David Murray (6'4''-F) of Valdosta St.
G:
Jarell Byrd (6'5''-G-91) of W.Alabama
G/F:
Sandy Underwood (6'5''-G/F-92) of W.Alabama
G:
Nate Johnson (6'3''-G) of W.Florida
G:
Deonta Stocks (6'1''-G) of W.Georgia
All-Tournament Team
F:
Willie Readus (6'7''-F) of Delta St.
PG:
Jeremy McKay (5'10''-PG) of Valdosta St.
G:
Harry Green (6'1''-G) of Christian Brothers
G:
Cory McArthy (6'2''-G) of Christian Brothers
F:
Bruce Adams (6'5''-F-90) of N.Alabama
G:
Rashaun Claiborne (6'4''-G-90) of N.Alabama
|
Champagne
