Another East Marion-Columbia rivalry game came down to the very end, and for the fourth consecutive time it was the Eagles who made the clutch plays to win the game.
As part of the opening night action of the East Marion Holiday Classic, East Marion (8-5) outscored Columbia (4-8) 18-12 in the fourth quarter to win 57-51. Fueled by defense and transition baskets, Columbia made a pivotal third-quarter run to tie it at 39-39 heading into the fourth quarter, but a 6-0 run that spanned a minute and 11 seconds by the Eagles sealed the game.
Up two points with 3:38 remaining, East Marion’s John Rawls sank a hook shot and Vashon Sims and Caleb Rawls each made a pair of free throws that proved to be the difference. Columbia head coach Charlie James said it’s a recurring theme for the Wildcats that will only improve through experience.
“We just need to learn how to win down the stretch,” he said. “Offensively, we’re not in sync. One (reason) is we have to play a lot of youngsters, and I’m hoping they grow up by district time. We have a couple of freshmen (and) a sophomore, and you just have to live with those mistakes. Those younger kids just haven’t been into the fire like that. They’re thinking they have to do something instead of just playing the game and letting it come.”
East Marion head coach Calvin Brown said he liked the way Sims, Flenard McLin, Caleb Rawls and John Rawls stayed aggressive throughout the tightly-contested final stanza.
“I was proud we didn’t fear taking the next shot. We didn’t fear failing, and that did show me some maturity and championship mettle,” he said. “But defensively our attention to detail put us in that position.”
It was the play of TJ Monroe and Jaheim Oatis that lifted the Wildcats throughout the second half. Monroe scored a game-high 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting and had three blocks, while Oatis was 6-of-8 for 12 points and hauled in nine rebounds, including five offensive that led to four put back layups. Fellow big man Tykelvis Wright showed up on the defensive end as well with two blocks while altering several East Marion shots at the rim.
“They played a lot more aggressive tonight, and that helped us,” James said. “I still go back to down the stretch, though. It was a two-point game and we turned the ball over three or four times right there. That’s the biggest thing. But they did play well. Jaheim came in and gave us some valuable minutes, and TK (Wright) played well at times.”
Brown had high praise for the 6-foot-6 Columbia freshman, too.
“I think Jaheim Oatis is an unstoppable force, honestly. I’m excited tonight for my 2019 class that he hasn’t totally figured that out. I don’t think he realizes it yet. But going forward I don’t know what we’ll do with him or anyone else will when he does start to figure it out,” he said. “He’s such a force that he creates that. When it’s one-on-one, it’s either a bucket or a foul. He has a naturally soft touch, good feet and good hands. When you help he’s cleaning up everything (on the boards).”
Caleb Rawls (14 points), John Rawls (14), Sims (13) and McLin (13) were the driving force that led the Eagles and combined to score all but three of East Marion’s points. While Brown was glad to see the Eagles make enough free throws down the stretch to put it away, he said they have to take it upon themselves to improve at the charity stripe away from the gym.
“For us to get enough practice shooting free throws as much as I think we really need to, we would have to have eight-hour practices,” he said. “What I try to teach here is mindset and approach. The rest is up to them.”
For the Wildcats James said the key this season remains finding that consistent second option to alleviate the burden of Monroe.
“Teams are going to key in on TJ, and I thought he played well tonight,” he said. “With the focus being on him, he was still able to play pretty well. But we need someone else to step up and carry the load in that situation.”
The Eagles played Jefferson Davis County, and the Wildcats played Lawrence County Saturday night in the tournament championship and consolation game, respectively. Results were unavailable at press time.
Pictured Above: East Marion's Caleb Rawls and John Rawls challenge Columbia's Darius Stewart at the rim. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
