Region 1-1A boys: Chipley cruises past Paxton

CHIPLEY — It was over by the end of the third quarter in this Region 1-1A boys basketball semifinal.

Chipley was leading visiting Paxton 36-22 with 1:30 left in the third quarter when the Tigers took a break and played a little keepaway to run down the clock.

Things didn’t get any better in the fourth quarter for Paxton with Chipley’s lightning quick Tyrone Sharpe and Tyler Oliver constantly picking off passes or slapping down shots inside the paint. By the time the final buzzer sounded, Chipley’s had a 59-32 win Tuesday and the Bobcats were eliminated.

The Bobcats had been out-reached all evening by the Tigers, with only Paxton’s Chad Zessin being able to tower over any of Chipley’s players. Chipley, 23-3, extended its winning streak to 21 and games now turns its attention to the Malone Tigers in the region championship game.

Chipley travels to Malone on Saturday at 7 p.m.. Malone defeated Holmes County 50-48 on Tuesday.

Paxton remained in contention early as Zessin tied things up 6-6 with 4:57 to play in the first quarter. Once Emanual Baston hit a layup with 2 minutes to go Chipley was ahead 10-8 and was never equaled from that point.

Chipley led only 13-8 after one quarter and 27-20 at halftime. Alex Hamilton came out and hit two layups back to back to put Chipley in command of the boards. Hamilton led all players with 22 points and Cameron Dozier added 17 for the Tigers.

Zessin led the Bobcats with 13 points.

 “Basketball is a game of spurts,” Chipley coach Joel Orlando said. “For us, our third-quarter defense was the key to the entire game. Alex Hamilton and Cameron Dozier did such a great job as leaders in the game. A big part of it is being patient, and knowing when to make the big plays.

 “We’re going into a hornet’s nest with (13) state championship banners hanging on their walls” at Malone. “It’s up to us to represent Chipley. Hopefully everyone will be proud of us.”