SENIOR STAND- OFA senior point guard Janero Porter scored 10 points in a 50-46 MAIS AAAA Div. I State Tournament loss to Parklane Academy. Photo by Jesse Brooks.
By Jesse Brooks
The Oak Forest Academy boys basketball team’s season has come to an end after falling to Parklane Academy 50-46 on Saturday, February 24 in the MAIS AAAA Div. I State Tournament third place qualifying game.
The Yellow Jackets found themselves trailing for most of the first half, but hot shooting got them back into the game. Junior guard La’Vell Scott hit a 3-pointer before the first half ended to cut into the Parklane lead 28-24.
Scott, who led OFA with 16 points, and senior point guard Janero Porter (10 points total) opened up the second half offensively hitting back-to-back shots from beyond-the-arc while still trailing 33-30. While the Jacket defense had their hands full with Parklane, their shooting was still on point. Later in the third quarter, senior forward Chris Back a made consecutive 3-pt. shots to bring OFA within 39-36.
The perimeter shooting continued in the final quarter as Porter opened it with a 3-pointer, and freshman guard Jaden Collura sank one of his own to tie up the game 44-44 with 4:08 left in regulation. Parklane answered with an easy layup off of a defensive breakdown, but Scott scored a fast break layup of his own to tie the game back up at 46-46.
Though the Jackets looked poised to win the game with time and possession in their favor, Parklane forced two steals that eventually led to a 50-46 advantage for victory.
“We made things happen on a few possessions, and then the ball kind of started to stick and we didn’t move as well as we wanted to,” OFA Coach Curtis Matherne said. “I don’t want to make excuses for them, but they’ve played good caliber teams in back-to-backs and maybe tour legs finally got to us. But they played as hard as they possibly could.”
The State Tournament started on a positive note as the underdog Jackets defeated Jackson Prep 65-49 for Matherne’s 100th career coaching win. Four different players scored in double digits in victory: Scott (19 points), Collura (17 points), Backa (15 points) and Porter (13 points). In the second round, OFA was defeated by Madison-Ridgeland Academy in a heartbreaking 65-63 loss in overtime.
Despite losing out on the game that would have qualified OFA for a trip to the MAIS AAAA Overall Tournament, the program as a whole produced a 20-win season. Several players experienced individual growth as well. Scott learned how to fill the role of the team’s top scoring option. Collura made the most of his opportunities and proved himself as a bench sharp shooter. Backa solidified himself as an inside and outside threat. Porter also displayed himself as a high energy point guard in his final season coming back from a year plagued with injuries.
“I worked at Southeastern for four years on the D-I level and I saw unbelievable point guards and guys that went on to make money overseas,” Matherne said. “I can’t believe schools and colleges aren’t beating our door down about Janero Porter. His basketball IQ, handles and decision making are off the charts. He can shoot it too. I would advise colleges in this area to check him out.”
Porter and Scott were both selected to the 2018 MAIS AAAA Div. I All-Tournament Team in an announcement made after the championship game.
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