Lancaster ran through a gantlet of strong Dallas teams and held off South Oak Cliff, 76-73, in overtime to win the 74th annual Dallas ISD/Coca-Cola Tournament at Ellis Davis Fieldhouse.
Junior guard Antwon Portley hit five of six free throws in overtime and 6-9 junior Elijah Thomas banked in a 2-footer, accounting for all of Lancaster’s points in the extra period.
Portley, who became eligible recently after transferring from DeSoto, hit four 3-pointers and converted three free throws on a 3-point shooting foul during the third quarter. He finished with 28 points.
Thomas, ranked as the nation's ninth-best recruit in the Class of 2015 by Rivals
.com, had 20 points despite foul trouble. Senior guard Kaelon Wilson, the tournament MVP, added 17 points.Lancaster defeated the DISD’s Carter, Pinkston, Kimball and Madison to reach the final. Lancaster is ranked No. 7 in the latest TABC Class 4A state poll.
“Normally, the team that wins this goes to Austin,” Wilson said, referring to the state tournament. “We want to keep that tradition. We made a name for ourselves. We go from being the hunters to being the hunted.”
SOC got a tip-in from 6-7 junior James Harrison to tie the score, 69-69, with 15 seconds left in regulation and force overtime. But in overtime, SOC struggled with Lancaster’s inside duo of Thomas and 6-10 sophomore Nate Morris.
SOC senior guard Mr. Dawson finished with 18 points, and junior JF Thomas added 15.
Madison 67, McKinney North 52: Defending Class 3A state champion Madison used a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter and pull away to take third-place over McKinney North.
Madison (12-3) was led by 6-7 senior Jonathan Turner’s 19 points while junior Admon Gilder had 16 points. McKinney North (11-5) was led by 6-3 senior Julion Pearre’s 13 points.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM