Defense, McLean boost Wildcats

  • Andrew Miller
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  • Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Sunday, March 18, 2012 3:23 p.m.
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The West Ashley boys basketball team has relied on a smothering defense all season to win.

So it came as no surprise that it was the Wildcats' defense that pushed West Ashley past Sumter, 62-47, in the opening round of the Class AAAA playoffs on Wednesday night.

West Ashley forward Tre McLean

scored 25 points, pulled down seven rebounds, handed out four assists and blocked four shots to lead the Wildcats (20-5).

The Wildcats next play at Lexington in the second round Saturday night.

After a sluggish start, the Wildcats turned up their defensive pressure and allowed the Gamecocks (18-8) to score just eight points over the final 12 minutes of the first half.

The Gamecocks jumped to an early 14-10 lead on Shaquir Mack's put-back with 3:21 left in the second quarter.

The Wildcats answered with an 8-0 run to end the first quarter and then held the Gamecocks, who shot just 31 percent from the floor, to just four total points in the second quarter to take a 30-18 halftime lead.

"We struggle sometimes on the offensive end of the floor, but we've been a pretty consistent team defensively all season," said West Ashley coach Ronnie DuPre. "We had some problem scoring in the first quarter, but we forced a couple of turnovers, got a couple of easy baskets, and then started to play better."

The Gamecocks responded with a 13-6 run of their own to start the second half and pulled to within, 36-31, on Anthony Moses' layup with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was all West Ashley and McLean, who had 11 points and four rebounds over the final eight minutes.

"Tre took over the game in the fourth quarter," DuPre said.

Andre Lewis had 11 points and Ernest Heyward added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats.

Ernest Birth led the Gamecocks with 18 points.

Sumter 14 4 17 12--47

West Ashley 18 12 10 22--62

West Ashley: Andre Lewis 11, Brown 2, Tre McLean 25, Ealy 6, Ernest Heyward 10, Glenn 8.

Sumter: Woods 7, Milliner 3, Sterling Taban 2, Ernest Birth 18, Mack 6, Holloway 6, Brunson 2, Moses 3.