Dec 28, 2011
Clayton Basketball Logo - Generic Graphic
FINAL (OT): Clayton 62, Rocky Mount 60: Despite trailing by as much as 16 in the second half, Clayton rallied to win a 62-60 overtime thriller against Rocky Mount and take third place in the 4-team Randolph Bracket of the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational. The Comets took their first lead of the game with 1:44 left in the extra frame.
After struggling for much of the game, Cary Clark took over the game in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 points in the frame to help Clayton complete its comeback. Clark came up big in overtime as well, hitting a runner in the lane and a free throw in the final 30 seconds to seal the win. Clark finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks on the day.Anthony Gaskins scored 23.
Rocky Mount played well for the majority of the game and led throughout regulation, but struggled once big man Dante Battle (11 points,) fouled out with 2:36 left in the fourth quarter. Terrill Hilliard finished with 25 points and eight rebounds for the Gryphons.
END 4Q: Rocky Mount 55, Clayton 55: We'll get some free basketball in the first game of the day at Broughton High School. Gary Clark scored 17 fourth-quarter points to help Clayton roar back from a big deficit.
END 3Q: Rocky Mount 43, Clayton 33: The Terrill Hilliard show continues from the first game of the day here at Broughton High School. The Rocky Mount senior forward scored 10 points in the quarter, bringing his total for the game to 22. The Gryphons also extended their 7-point halftime lead to 43-33 by the end of the period.
Anthony Gaskins, who scored 10 points of his own in the third quarter, is keeping Clayton within shouting distance. Down 16 at one point, the Comets pulled to within 10 by quarter's end thanks to a 8-2 spurt during the final minute and a half.
HALFTIME: Rocky Mount 27, Clayton 20: The pace slowed a bit in the second quarter of this one, with Rocky Mount and Clayton combining for just 15 points. The Gryphons got the better of those 15, scoring 10 points in the quarter to take a 27-20 lead at the break.
Rocky Mount continues to make things tough for Gary Clark and Clayton around the basket and rebounded well. Clayton has made its mark on the game getting out in transition off Rocky Mount misses. Clayton point guard Anthony Gaskins, a junior, has been especially good and has nine first half points.
Rocky Mount's Terrill Hilliard continues to be the best player on the court on both ends of the court, leading the way with 12 points and an assist.
HALFTIME STATS:
Rocky Mount
Terrill Hilliard - 12
Lavon Brutus - 5
Dante Battle - 4
Kenneth Peoples, Jr. - 4
Tevin Taylor - 2
Clayton
Anthony Gaskins - 9
Gary Clark - 6
Kyle Bryant - 3
Devon Terry - 2
END 1Q: Rocky Mount 17, Clayton 15: Good back-and-forth battle in the first quarter of this third place game. Led by Terrill Hilliard's nine points, the Gryphons stayed on top for all but 20 seconds of the quarter.
Rocky Mount is trying to slow down Clayton big man Gary Clark with double teams and physical defense, but the talented sophomore still scored six points in the opening eight minutes.
PREGAME: It's early, but it's not too early for basketball here at Broughton High School. It's day three of they HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational! We'll kick things off this morning with the third place game of the 4-team Randolph Bracket between Rocky Mount and Clayton. We'll have quarterly updates for you throughout the day today from Broughton.
Rocky Mount enters play Wednesday coming off a 68-56 loss to Broughton Tuesday afternoon. Clayton's appearance in the third place game comes after a 64-42 loss to Chapel Hill.
Rocky Mount is making its second appearance in the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational in the last four years. This year's Gryphons are led by backcourt players Tevin Taylor and M.J. Gainey.
The Comets are making their third appearance in the tournament, with the last appearance coming in 2003. The Comets have three rising stars to watch, led by 6'6"sophomore power forward Gary Clark. He currently has offers from UNC-Wilmington, and is receiving interest from ECU, South Carolina, Tulane, Virginia and Wake Forest.
Clayton finished last season at 19-7, second in the Greater Neuse River 4A Conference behind Holiday Invitational participant Garner. Clayton enters the Holiday Invitational with a record of 6-2 (2-1).
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