Sequoyah Stuns Creekview with Late Comeback

In a rivalry game, nothing is surprising. Not a 20-minute delay so volunteers can clean chalk dust up off the floor. Not a jam packed gymnasium and certainly not a seven point fourth-quarter comeback. All of those happened Friday at .

With almost 3,000 people packed into the gym, saved their undefeated season by overcoming a 40-33 fourth quarter deficit to top Creekview 53-49. Chief star Sean Tate scored 31 points in the game, including a 10-of-12 fourth-quarter performance from the free-throw line.

The game was delayed 20 minutes after Creekview's LeBron James 'chalk dust' entrance clouded the entire gym and most of the court with chalk dust. However, once, the game got going, the action never stopped.

The Grizzlies trailed 18-16 late in the first quarter before Zach Murphy hit a 3-pointer that put them on top. At that point, Creekview took control of the game and the Grizzlies didn't trail again until midway through the fourth.

"They did a great job of running their offense," Sequoyah coach Jeremy Adams said of Creekview.

With his team down 27-20 at the break, Adams said he did something he hasn't had to do all season, he gave it to his team at the break, "This was the first time I got on them at halftime all year," the coach said. "I just felt like Creekview wanted it more and I didn't understand that."

Creekview's seven point halftime lead was still at seven points when the third quarter ended which is why Grizzlies coach Casey Gramling isn't exactly sure what happened to his guys in the fourth quarter, "We work hard on playing with a lead and having longer possessions," Gramling said. "But we just stopped executing and we tried to do some things individually that led to turnovers."

However, Gramling did quickly say that he wasn't questioning anyone's effort, "My guys left their heart on the floor," says Gramling.  "We thought we could beat them, they're a good team and they're well coached."

Creekview lost the lead for good with 2:47 left in the game when Sequoyah's Brandon Alexander hit a runner in the lane. It was one of only two buckets for Alexander on the night.

From there, Tate was the story. The senior went 6-of-6 from the charity stripe in the game's final two minutes.

Cullen Roberts added seven points for Sequoyah to go along with Tate's 31.

Zach Murphy was the scoring leader for Creekview, the six-foot-five senior scored 13 points, including three from downtown. Classmate A.J. Johnson added 10.

Sequoyah will be back in action at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday when they face Chattahoochee for the Region 7-AAAA championship.

Creekview will play at 4:30 p.m. in the consolation game against Cass. Both games will be at Creekview High School.