Collierville defeats Arlington for spot in tourney

<p>Collierville wasn't the most talented team on the floor Monday night.</p> <p>It didn't need to be.</p> <p>The Dragons, behind their physical defense and seniors, defeated Arlington, 55-51, in overtime to earn a spot in next week's Division 1-3A Boys State Tournament in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.</p> <p>Here are three takeaways from Collierville's win over the Tigers.</p> <p><strong>The Dragons didn't fold after giving up double-digit lead</strong></p> <p>The third quarter belonged to senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="775554" first="Davon" last="Barnes"]</strong>. He scored eight points in the quarter to help Collierville build a 43-33 lead. The Dragons' cushion didn't last as Arlington turned up its defensive pressure, forced turnovers and went on a 12-0 run to take a 48-45 lead with under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter.</p> <p>During the Tigers' scoring burst, sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1043215" first="Javar" last="Daniel"]</strong> scored seven points and topped off his stretch with a 3-point play. Arlington had the momentum and seemed to be on its way to its first state tournament appearance under second-year head coach Maurice Miller.</p> <p>But a defensive lapse from the Tigers left senior guard <strong>Jordan</strong> <strong>Jenkins</strong> wide open in the corner for the 3 to tie the game.</p> <p>In the waning seconds, with the game tied 49-all after both teams split free throws, junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1019410" first="Phil" last="Dotson III"]</strong> missed the potential game-winning shot from the left wing as time expired.</p> <p>In overtime, Jenkins and Barnes split free throws to give Collierville a lead it wouldn't relinquish, which was a sign of heart and resilience from a team that once had a chokehold on the contest in the third quarter.</p> <p>"They went on a big run. We tried to give the game away," Dragons second-year head coach Scott Robinson said. "Our seniors stepped up, and Chris (Sims) made a big play at the end. You know, it's just a job for our guys to be proud of."</p> <p>Clinging to a 53-51 lead, Collierville had opportunities to put the game away at the free throw line, but <strong>AJ</strong> <strong>Bates</strong> and <strong>Madison</strong> <strong>Taylor</strong> missed four free throws, giving Arlington a lifeline. After Taylor's second missed free throw, <strong>Chris Sims</strong> glided into the lane for the putback to seal the win, erasing any chances for the Tigers to tie or win it.</p> <p><strong>Anyone's night for the Dragons' offense</strong></p> <p>Barnes is clearly Collierville's No. 1 scoring option, but the Dragons have a slew of guys with the itch to make shots. Before Barnes' hot third quarter, Taylor made the team's first 3 of the game in the first quarter after Arlington started the game on a 7-0 run. Taylor and <strong>TJ McNeal</strong> each converted on a 3 to give Collierville a 24-19 lead in the second quarter.</p> <p>Junior <strong>Josh Dawson</strong> scored the team's first four points of the second quarter.</p> <p>Coach Robinson had more than Barnes to make big shots in a game with a trip to the state tournament on the line.</p> <p>"Every night, someone's going to step up," Robinson said. "We have two guys that are really well offensively, can make our team go in Jordan and Davon. Then, it just depends on the night, you know, on who's making shots and who's going to make plays.</p> <p>"Chris stepped up big time tonight for us, defensively and offensively. I told our guys before the game the team that sticks together the most will come out with the victory. It's going to be a game of runs, up and down. We just found a way."</p> <p>Barnes led the team in scoring with 16. Jenkins had 13.</p> <p><strong>Dragons were scrappy defensively</strong></p> <p>Collierville crowded the paint in second half, an adjustment that was needed because senior point guard <strong>Madison</strong> <strong>Peaster</strong> was living in the lane in the first half. The Dragons sent double teams to Daniel, who was making shots when he was in post position on the block. Jenkins mainly had the assignment of guarding Dotson, face guarding him, not allowing the sniper to get any great looks from 3.</p> <p>Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="537277" first="Isaiah" last="Jones"]</strong> couldn't be effective offensively due to foul trouble. He picked up his third foul in the second quarter, having to seat for most of the third quarter. He ended up fouling out with 7:38 left to go in the fourth quarter.</p> <p>Daniel led the Tigers with 17 points. Peaster had 15, and Dotson provided 12.</p>