Abbeville Earns Trip To Class A Boy’s Finals With Win Over CA Johnson

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Florence—Not many Class A boys’ basketball teams have a talent like Abbeville’s Jaden Baylor on their roster, and the star player scored 27 points against CA Johnson in the upper state finals at the Florence Civic Center on Thursday as the Panthers prevailed 58-46.

Abbeville will now compete against Denmark-Olar, who beat Bethine-Bowman in the lower state finals at the same arena Thursday, at 4 p.m. on March, 6.

Veteran Abbeville coach Doug Belcher was very pleased with the big win. “We kept fighting and we stepped up our defense (went to a diamond and 2) on number 13 and number one for them as we were focused on taking them out of the game,” said Coach Belcher. “We have been working hard all year and we have one more step to go. We give all the honor and glory to the most-high God.”

Abbeville only started one senior, inside man Altavious Patterson. Jaden Baylor is just a junior. “Jaden can play every position on the floor and when he makes his mind up, he is pretty much unstoppable when he goes to the basket, and he can also hit the three on the inside also,” said Coach Belcher.

“I am very proud of these guys for hanging in there and playing hard the entire game,” said Coach Belcher. “We played for a state title in 2015, and won the title that year in my fourth year of coaching. It’s great to be back again.”

CA Johnson actually led 15-11 after the first period as sophomore Milton McCray nailed three three-point shots to lead the offense. After Abbeville switched to a diamond and two defense, he did not score another three-pointer.

Abbeville rallied in the second period as Jaden Baylor hit a three-point shot from the deep corner to tie the game at 19 with 2:57 left in the first half. The Panthers would never trail in the game again. They led 24-21 at the half.

Baylor had 9 half-time points. McCray had 13 first-half points for CA Johnson.

In the third period both teams maintained a fast pace offense with Abbeville taking a 39-34 lead into the final period. CA Johnson broke fast in the final period going on a 7-0 run to close the deficit to 41-40 with 5:22 left in the game. Elijah Harper began by making two free throws, followed by a basket by Aiassiac Germany before Tony Odom brought the CA Johnson fans to their feet with a three-point from the right elbow.

However, the Panthers then went on a 11-0 run to lead the game 52-42 with 2:25 left in the contest. Over that period Patterson put back a lay-up, Justin Rollinson converted two free throws, Jaden Baylor scored two baskets and Darius Riley nailed a three-point shot from the deep corner.

Behind Baylor’s 27 points, Abbeville got seven points from Riley and Rollinson and Jamerion Williams contributed four points.

CA Johnson was led by McCray with 13 points. Odom had 11 points and senior Zion Lakin contributed 9 points.

CA Johnson is head coached veteran Robert McCray.