HOT SPRINGS -- Cedar Ridge got its usual high-scoring performance from Austin Reaves, but it took a more subtle approach to wrap up another state title Saturday.
The Timberwolves established an early cushion and protected it by slowing the game down in the second half to beat Charleston 75-60 to win the Class 3A boys championship in front of 5,845 at Bank of the Ozarks Arena.
"It feels good to be a state champion again," said Cedar Ridge Coach Isaac Middlebrooks, who's guided the Timberwolves to three state titles in the past four years. "I wouldn't trade this group of guys for anybody. Austin gets a lot of attention, but he couldn't do what he does without his teammates, and I think it showed [Saturday]."
Reaves did what he's done all season long for Cedar Ridge (36-3), which won its final 30 games of the season. The senior guard scored a game-high 43 points -- which tied Dusty Hannahs and James Anderson for second most in a state championship game -- grabbed 6 rebounds, and handed out 5 assists.
Reaves crushed the state record for most points scored in a single state tournament with 173, breaking Joe Brasel's mark of 146 set in 1960. The Wichita State commit also set a finals record for most free throws made in a title game with 21.
"None of this is possible for me without my teammates," Reaves said. "We controlled the game by not taking a lot of stupid shots. That's good for a team that likes to get out and go, but it was a team effort from everybody.
"I wasn't aware of the records; I was just worried about getting the win."
Senior forward Cade Crabtree added 14 points and 4 rebounds for the Timberwolves, while junior guard Ethan Ballard knocked down 4 three-pointers to finish with 12.
Junior guard Brandon Fenner scored a team-high 23 points for Charleston (26-7), which had won 16 games in a row but was forced to change tactics defensively once Cedar Ridge built a big advantage.
"[Cedar Ridge] is pretty good job at protecting a lead once they get it," Charleston Coach B.J. Ross said. "When they're up, it's hard to take it away from [Reaves] because he's such a good ball handler. So we had to get away from our scheme.
"We normally don't do a lot of doubling and trapping, but it was frustrating because once you get out of a certain scheme you've done for 32 games, for four or five years, it gets you a little out of whack."
Sophomore guard Chase Ewing added 14 points for the Tigers, and junior forward Phillip Hampton ended with 7 points and 8 rebounds.
Charleston never led and trailed 39-26 at halftime, and the Timberwolves made the Tigers chase them for much of the final two quarters by drawing them away from the basket. Reaves routinely was shadowed by Charleston defenders, and on several possessions, was taken out of plays altogether. But by doing so, it allowed Crabtree to either attack the interior for baskets or find Ballard for open three-pointers.
"That was key," Ross said. "They were able to get to the line and get themselves easy buckets. We just had a hard time handling that."
Reaves got off to a fast start by scoring 14 of his team's 20 first-quarter points, but Charleston was able to limit the Timberwolves' second-chance opportunities and capitalize out of its offensive sets to trail by just six going into the second quarter.
The Tigers continued to hold their own on the glass and climbed to within 25-22 on Fenner's three-pointer with 6:40 remaining in the half. But Reaves' three-point play on the Timberwolves' ensuing possession started a quick 7-0 run that gave them a 32-22 lead. Fenner's two free throws cut it to eight moments later, but Cedar Ridge closed out the quarter by scoring seven of the next nine points to build its 13-point cushion.
Charleston caught a break when Reaves picked up his third foul with 6:42 left in the third quarter. At the time, Cedar Ridge held a 44-32 lead, but Crabtree and Ballard were able to take advantage when Charleston decided to change its defensive plan.
The Timberwolves led 57-44 at the start of the fourth quarter and put the game away behind Reaves, who scored 14 of their final 18 points.
"I don't know if we've played any better," Middlebrooks said. "We had a week to get ready for Charleston, and they're a great team. Coach Ross did a great job of getting them ready to play us.
"But I think it came down to us executing what we needed to do better than what they needed to do."
Sports on 03/13/2016