Chick-fil-A Classic
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009
Game 22 Summary

Richland Northeast overcame a slow start and foul trouble to beat Vance 57-49 to finish third in the Chick-fil-A Classic I bracket Tuesday.

Jarred Guest, who played with four fouls during a critical part of the second half, finished with 21 points and eight rebounds as the Cavaliers improve to 7-2. Donald Tention added 11 points for RNE.

“Jarred got into foul trouble again, but other players did a good job of stepping up,” said Richland Northeast coach Jason Powell.

The Cavaliers shot 50 percent from the field and, more importantly, was 12-of-18 from the free throw line.

“Our defense and the fact that we made our free throws has been the difference for us,” he said. “It seems like our ability to hit free throws in the end is why we’ve won seven of our last eight games.”

Richland Northeast finished third in last year’s tournament, but Powell said he learned a lot about this year’s the last two weeks.

“It’s just been enjoyable to coach them,” he said. “I learn something about them everyday for about the last two weeks. We were not seen as a top 10 team, but in my mind we’ve played like a top 10 team the last two weeks.”

Vance, which fell to 8-2, shot 23.8 percent from the field in the second half and only had one player, Braxton Ogubueze to score in double figures. Ogubueze had 12 points before fouling out.