03-14-15
BY JACK BULLOCK
PEORIA - The Meridian Bobcats' dream of becoming state champions fell just short on Saturday afternoon.

Mainly due to the one player that they couldn't stop.

Brimfield senior guard Carson Cuevas, a first team all-state selection, scored 32-points to lead the Indians to their first state tournament championship in a 56-52 victory.

They got out to a double-digit lead in the third quarter, breaking a 20-all halftime deadlock with a big run as they held off Meridian.

And Koby White scored only one point in the game, but it was a single free throw with :03.1 remaining to ice the victory to improve the champs to 34-2.

“We are state champs. It is something every team hopes for and strives for every season,” said Brimfield head coach Scott Carlson. “I'm not sure I ever dreamed this far. I'm not sure I ever dreamed that we would win the state championship. But the way these guys performed, starting somewhere in the middle of January we started really believing. Carson Cuevas sent me a text and said 'coach, make us work harder in practice so we can go as far as we can' and I don't think I ever had a player tell me to push us harder.”

For the Bobcats, the offense struggled against the Indians' 1-3-1 zone, but the defense helped get them back into the game.

David Davis led three players in double-figures with 14-points while DJ Weldon and Davarae Edmonds had 12-each.

But the shooting issues (36 percent) could not be overcome on this afternoon as the Bobcats finished in second place at 27-8 on the season.

Head coach Erik Griffin saw his top player (Davis) pick up two quick fouls in the first quarter and had to miss nearly all of the first half.

He had picked up three quick fouls in the sectional title game against Cairo but the Bobcats survived.

With him only playing 20-of-32 minutes, he still managed to lead the club in scoring.

“I'm proud of these guys. Like I said yesterday no one expected us to be in this situation. And no one should underestimate the heart of these kids,” said Coach Griffin. “We aren't the biggest and we aren't the greatest shooters, we don't jump the highest and we may not be the most well coached. But these kids have the biggest hearts of any team in the state and I would go to war with them any day of the week.”

Meridian got to halftime with the score tied thanks to reserve Byron Nesby, who came off the bench for the Bobcats to contribute six-points on three field goals.

A 10-2 run gave back the lead to Meridian and they could have increased it.

When Edmonds made two free throws with 1:30 left, Coach Griffin's club was on top 20-15.

But Cuevas scored a pair of baskets to end the second quarter, including a buzzer beating 20-footer from the right side to even the score at the break.

Brimfield put some distance between themselves in the third quarter and the early part of the fourth.

Cuevas scored nine of his points in the third and his runner in the lane while being fouled by Edmonds resulted in a conventional three-point play and a 38-32 lead with 1:23 left.

Meridian tried to stay close as they hit all three of their 3-pointers in the third period.

Weldon hit two of those shots, with one coming with just over a minute left.

But Cuevas scored again on a fast break as he grabbed his own rebound on a missed lay in and his stick back made it 40-35 heading to the fourth.

The first seven points of the final period were netted by the Indians.

Three of the points came on a missed 3-pointer Jace Swietek, who was fouled by Davis.

His made three free throws, along with baskets by Nate Wallace and Ryan Smith pushed Brimfield on the brink of a blowout at 47-35.

However Meridian made one final push that got them within striking distance before falling short.

Davis, Edmonds and Weldon all score in the next four minutes and when Davis drove the lane for a basket while being fouled by 6-foot-7 senior center Brad Novak, his converted free throw cut the Indians lead to just 54-49.

Trailing 55-51 in the final seconds, Meridian missed two straight 3-point attempts before Edmonds got a offensive rebound while being fouled.

He converted the second of two free throws but the Bobcats were running out of clock at :04.5 left.

Brimfield got the ball into White who was fouled immediately.

After missing the first free throw and subsequent Meridian timeout, the 5-foot-10 junior iced the game and the championship by converting the second charity.

Davis missed a long 3-point shot as time expired on the special Meridian season.

One could point to many reasons for the Bobcats demise in the title game but it was Cuevas who turned out to be the X-Factor as he was nearly unstoppable at times.

The Bobcats used several different defenders on him but he still managed to lead his team to the crown.

Coach Griffin's club was just 18-of-50 overall and hit just 3-of-14 from the arc.

They held a 35-23 rebounding edge with Edmonds picking up another double-double with 10-rebounds.

Brimfield hit 21-of-44 overall (47.7 percent) with Cuevas leading the way as he hit 14-of-25.

Neither squad hit from long range very well, with the Indians converting just 5-of-19 while the Bobcats ended up 3-of-14.

“We had a great season and it is something that they will remember for the rest of their lives,” said Coach Griffin. “It is something that the community will remember. The kids talked about leaving a legacy behind as one of the best teams that Meridian has ever had.”

In a bit of irony, the last time that Mounds Meridian played in a state championship game (1972) they lost to Lawrenceville 63-57 as senior guard Mike Lockhart of Lawrenceville scored 32-points, the same as Cuevas.

Lawrenceville, as most of you will remember, were nicknamed the Indians.