Hard feelings: Red Devils ousted from playoffs, game called early
Clinton’s C.J. Jones (1) drives to the basket as High Point’s Joc Miller (10) draws a charge Friday night in the Red Devils’ playoff loss at High Point Academy.
SPARTANBURG – The Clinton boys basketball season and the Red Devils’ playoff run ended two minutes, 42 seconds early Friday night at High Point Academy.
High Point defeated Clinton 67-48 in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs in a tumultuous game that the officials stopped with 2:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.
By that point, the Red Devils had been called for four technical fouls, at least three Clinton fans had been ejected, and so had Clinton Athletic Director Louie Alexander and head coach Dontavius Glenn in the second half.
It appeared the officiating crew was at first going to clear the gym and then finish the game, instead they came to the scorer’s table, removed their whistles and exited the gym.
The Red Devils ended their season with a 15-9 record – with two of those losses coming to the Grizzlies (25-3). The two teams met on Jan. 4, a 68-64 High Point victory.
Like that regular-season meeting, Friday’s game stayed close until High Point stretched a 34-30 third-quarter advantage into double digits early in the fourth quarter.
As the Grizzlies, who has built a 47-39 lead by the end of the third, pulled away tensions among the players, coaches and fans ratcheted up.
In the first three minutes of the final period, three Clinton players – Devin Swindler, Zy Butler and Owen Glenn – had fouled out. The Red Devils whistled for 32 personal fouls on the night. High Point was charged with 17 personal fouls in a game that was physical from the outset.
Senior guard Tushawan Richardson led Clinton with a game-high 16 points, and Butler added 12 before fouling out.
J’Sean Sanders led the Grizzlies with 15 points.
High Point advances to the third round of the Class 2A playoffs and will face the winner of Friday night’s game between Batesburg-Leesville and York Prep Wednesday.
