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Lancaster recovers from 20-point 4th quarter deficit to bounce South Oak Cliff in 4A Region II semis

GARLAND – Lancaster rallied from a 20-point deficit in the fourth-quarter to defeat South Oak cliff, 82-77, in a Class 4A boys Region II semifinal at the Culwell Center.

With guard Antwon Portley and forward Elijah Thomas accounting for 20 of 35 fourth-quarter points, Lancaster trailed South Oak Cliff 67-47 with seven minutes remaining before going on a 28-5 with hot shooting and frenetic defense leading to transition baskets.

“Every day in practice, we have to make three defensive stops in a row and score each time,” said Thomas, who ended with 18 points and 14 rebounds. “That was the mindset. We believed we could do it. We had the want to.”

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Lancaster (31-4) advances to the regional final with berth to the state tournament in the balance. Lancaster had defeated SOC (27-7) twice previously this season but Lancaster found itself down 20 points on SOC’s first basket of the final period.

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“I looked at the scoreboard and turned to my assistants and said, “We’re down 20,”” Lancaster coach Ferrin Douglas said. “We got some big baskets, got a lot of hands on balls for turnovers and to come back from 20 against a great program like SOC in the regional semifinal, we have to believe we can win state.”

A frantic comeback was completed as senior guard Kaelon Wilson hit two free throws to tie the score at 70 with 2:20 left. Senior guard De’Angelo Jones picked off an errant in-bounds pass on the next possession to take a 72-70 lead. Portley scored 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter to spark the run. Thomas controlled the boards with his rebounding and shot blocking.

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SOC had taken its lead with a 28-point second-quarter creating a 65-47 halftime lead. But went without a field goal for nearly a six-minute stretch. SOC junior guard CJ Massingburg had a team-high 14 points but fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

SOC (27-7) 20-28-17-12-77

Lancaster (31-4) 19-17-11-35-82

SOC: Franky Byers 6, Lazae Seaton 13, Mr Dawson 6, CJ Massingburg 14, Prentice McKinney 6, Olando King 2, JF Thomas 12, James Harrison 13, Devin McCullough 5

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Lancaster: Byron Cubit 5, Dominque Fobbs 2, De’Angelo Jones 5, Kaelon Wilson 20, Jakolby Pemberton 13, Antwon Portley, 14, Elijah Thomas 18, Nate Morris 3, Josh Kennedy 2