In the 3rd postseason meeting between Seneca and Keenan in the last three years, Keenan took the rubber match 37-32. It marks just the 3rd loss all season for Seneca and the first defeat since December 14th. Seneca's only other losses this season were to 5A Upper State Finals participant Mauldin. Wednesday night, Seneca found themselves in a "meat grinder" of a game.
Keenan used their noticeable size advantage and " in the shirt" style defense to control the tempo. Seneca is a team that came in averaging 65 points per game but it was clear that the pressure Keenan put them on them had a major effect. The Bobcats turned the ball over 22 times and were minus 6 in the turnover margin. Keenan also owned the offensive glass advantage 17-9, as 6 ft8 Senior Olyn Knox and 6ft 6 Senior Semajeh Echols had most of those 17 offensive boards.
Seneca took a slight lead early and finished the first frame up 11-8. They would score just 7 in the second quarter, Keenan would score just 8 and Seneca took an 18-16 lead into the halftime break. In the 2nd half, Seneca would come out on a 6-2 run. However, Keenan would put the clamps on them allowing just 2 more points in the 3rd. The Raiders went on an 11-2 run to finish the 3rd quarter up 30-26.
In the 4th, Seneca would muster just 6 points and had a long scoring drought. Keenan wasn't much better offensively as they scored 7 in the final frame but their defense and offensive rebounding proved to be the difference. Keenan's Zach Norris is one of the most decorated coaches in South Carolina and he seemed to be a step ahead of Seneca's Kevin Padgett all game. Norris made a late defensive adjustment going from the pressure half court man to a 1-3-1 zone in the final 3 minutes that threw Seneca off balance as well as they scored just once in the stretch.
For Keenan, Senior Guard Chrisean Oree had a team high 11. Echols finished with 8 points but had 12 rebounds and Knox had 6 points and 8 rebounds after being saddled with foul trouble earlier in the game.
Seneca got a game high 12 from Senior Amari McCalope. They also got 10 points and 7 boards from Senior E.J. Evett, which was under his season average of nearly 18 per. Seneca fans saw Evett close out his brilliant athletic career there. He has signed to play football at FCS Weber State and will move on from there. It was the final game in a Bobcat jersey for Senior starters J.C. Mitchell and Terrique Webb as well.
Keenan will move on to a familiar spot in the Upper State Finals. I've heard rumors that Keenan has went to Upper State so much, they put the date on their schedule. They'll take on Blue Ridge, who ironically will be making their first ever trip to the Upper State Finals. Their renaissance season has come due in large part to the heroics of USC-Upstate commit Justin Bailey. Seneca ends their season with a record of 23-3 and were Region 1 3A Champs going unbeaten in region play. The loss snapped the Bobcats 16 game winning streak. Hats off to Keenan's ability to defend and rebound, they hung their hats on it Wednesday night and are riding it back to familiar territory. Keenan and Blue Ridge play Monday night at Bob Jones University, for the 3A Upper State Title and a berth in the State Finals.
