The 52-50 loss brings a disappointing end to a one of Pineville's best seasons in recent history. The Mountain Lions finished the regular season at 22-5 and 15-3 in the region. Their only losses since December were two nail-biters with Barbourville and on a buzzer beater to Clay County - two teams that figure to be among South Laurel's toughest hurdles in the regional tournament.
Lynn Camp (15-10) had a successful season, but had lost to the Lions 67-47 on their home court in the teams' only meeting of the season. No one expected them to be capable of pulling off the upset on Pineville's home court.
The win puts the Wildcats into the district final and the 13th Region tournament. This will be the first time they have advanced to the district finals since 1962, Lynn Camp coach Anthony Pennington said.
“I am just ecstatic as a coach,” he said. “There have been only three district runners-up in our history and it is a special moment for our kids and our school.”
Pineville trailed only once in the game until early in the fourth quarter when Lynn Camp pulled even on a basket by Cody Dixon to tie the game at 43 apiece.
On the next play, Adam Bray swiped the ball and raced down the court for a layup to give the Wildcats a 45-43 lead.
Lynn Camp fans had more to cheer about when Bray scored again as he drove to the basket to make it a four-point game with the Wildcats pushing out to a 47-43 lead.
“We had no pressure on us,” Pennington said. “We just came in here and played with heart and intensity. Pineville beat us by 20 points last time we played them. We tried to pass more, slow things down and keep our composure tonight.”
After Lynn Camp got the rebound on a missed Mountain Lion shot, Nathan Tanner drove to the basket and executed a 3-point play as he was fouled in the act of shooting.
On the next Pineville possession, James Strange got open and hit a 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining in the game to pull within two points to make it 50-48.
Dixon got a pass under the basket and scored with seven seconds left on the clock to put the game away for the Wildcats.
The Lions' Dustin Day, who scored a game-high 24 points, hit a basket at the buzzer to complete the scoring.
Day scored the opening basket of the game, then Dixon hit a 3-pointer to give Lynn Camp its only other lead of the game.
Day dominated the scoring in the first quarter for Pineville, scoring 12 of the Lions' 16 points.
Trailing 16-7 going into the second quarter, Jonah Mitchell came off the bench for the Wildcats and hit a 3-point shot.
“Jonah Mitchell and Steve Davis really came in and gave us a boost,” Pennington said. “Jonah hit a 3-pointer right away and played good defense for us. They both played well for us.”
He was followed by Tanner who made a 3-point play on a basket and a free throw to cut Pineville's lead to 16-13.
“Coach Pennington has had confidence in me and the rest of the bench all season,” Mitchell said. “We wanted to win tonight and we did. We were down all game, but when we got over the hump, we knew we would win.”
The teams went to the lockerroom with the Mountain Lions holding a 30-24 lead, but Lynn Camp would come out in the third quarter and whittle down the lead.
Bray scored six points in the quarter and Eric Hibbard hit a crucial 3-pointer for the Wildcats to leave them only three points down before the fourth quarter fireworks began.
Bray led Lynn Camp with 18 points, including two 3s, followed by Dixon with nine points and Tanner with eight points.
Pineville was led by Day with 24 points and Strange with 11 points.
The Wildcats will face Barbourville in the 51st District championship game on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Pineville.
Lynn Camp 52, Pineville 50
Lynn Camp 7 17 14 14 52
Pineville 16 14 11 9 50
Lynn Camp (52) - Adam Bray 18, Cody Dixon 9, Nathan Tanner 8, Joe Siler 6, Eric Hibbard 6, Jonah Mitchell 5.
Pineville (50) - Dustin Day 24, James David Strange 11, Blake Hensley 6, Jared Jeffrey 6, Derek Rosenbalm 3.
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