varsity.roanoke.com

ERIC BRADY The Roanoke Times

Cave Spring's Clay Lacy drives to the basket past New Kent defender Justin Williams during the first half of Tuesday's game.

Photos by ERIC BRADY The Roanoke Times

Cave Spring's Josh Henderson towers over New Kent defenders during Tuesday's Group AA Division 3 semifinal.

varsity.roanoke.com

Timesland on Twitter

• twitter.com/timesland for the latest news and updates from across Timesland

RICHMOND -- The medicine Josh Henderson has been taking lately ... can a brotha' get some of that?

Plagued by a throat infection for the past 10 days and a sprained ankle he suffered over the weekend, Henderson left New Kent feeling ill Tuesday as the 6-foot-11 senior center scored 31 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to lead Cave Spring to a 71-59 victory in a Group AA Division 3 semifinal at VCU's Siegel Center.

Cave Spring (24-4) will get a chance to defend its state championship against a familiar foe, Brunswick. The Knights and Bulldogs will collide for the second straight year for the title at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Henderson was huge in many ways Tuesday, three short days after injuring his ankle in a quarterfinal victory over Waynesboro.

The Vanderbilt signee had a double-double in points and rebounds by halftime. He had team-highs in assists (4), blocked shots (3) and steals (2). He made 10 of 14 free throws and also hit Cave Spring's first 3-pointer of the game.

Henderson scored 10 points in a critical 15-3 fourth-quarter run that turned a 52-49 Knights lead into a 67-52 bulge with 2:21 to play.

"Josh has been battling a throat infection for the past 10 days," Cave Spring coach Billy Hicks said. "They changed his medication twice. He rolled his ankle against Waynesboro. He didn't practice yesterday.

"One of the things I've talked to him about since his sophomore year was toughness. I hugged him after the game and said, 'Man, you ought to play sick and hurt more often.' "

Henderson kept his injury quiet Saturday and the ankle was still tender Tuesday.

"It still hurts, but nothing was going to keep me from playing," he said. "I just go out every day and play my hardest. If I get on the block, one-on-one, I don't really feel like anyone can stop me."

New Kent coach Ed Allen didn't have anyone on his roster who could come close.

"It's really hard to prepare for somebody that big in one day," Allen said. "He's got good footwork. He keeps the ball high. We haven't seen anybody like him."

Cave Spring also got a monster game from 6-4 senior forward Clay Lacy, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds, making all seven of his free throws.

"He's been a warrior for three years," Hicks said. "Nobody works harder. His motor is unbelievable."

Lacy sparked the decisive fourth-quarter run by rattling in a 3-pointer that put the Knights up 57-49.

It was Lacy's only 3-pointer on a day when the team was 3-for-18 behind the arc.

"As a shooter, you have to have the mentality that the next shot's going in," Lacy said. "I think our legs were a little tired today, our shots were falling short."

Senior guard Adam Hager provided valuable defense.

The 5-11 Hager had the assignment on Steven Allen -- the coach's son -- and he held the co-Region I Division 3 player of the year to just five points.

"Clay told me yesterday after fourth period, 'You're guarding one of the best players in Region I,' " Hager said. "I was so excited when I heard that. I was ready for the challenge. I love going up against good opponents."

Allen made just 2 of 10 shots and misfired on five airballs, indicative of New Kent's offensive struggles. The Trojans (25-3) made hit just 7 of 32 shots in the first half and finished the game 23-for-70.

"[Steven] was taking tough shots," Ed Allen said. "The guy was defending him pretty well. I just think he forced some shots. These guys are good. We're not used to seeing anybody that big. We just couldn't seem to get our offense going."

Reserve forward Kaleb Lamb and starting guard Justin Williams led New Kent with 16 points each.

New Kent led just once in the game at 3-2.

The Trojans had the game tied at 45 late in the third quarter before Mark Overstreet put the Knights ahead to stay with a free throw.

Henderson deflected an inbounds pass on the other end, then ran the floor for a layup to put Cave Spring up 48-45.

"I really think that's where our experience kicked in," Hicks said. "We didn't panic. From that point on, I thought we played really nice basketball."

In the fourth quarter, Henderson scored eight straight Cave Spring points on four free throws and two low-post moves.

The combined 53 points and 33 rebounds by Henderson and Lacy nearly matched New Kent's team totals.

"They're well-coached," Ed Allen said. "They set a lot of back screens. They utilize their ability to get those two guys the ball."

When Cave Spring returns Saturday, it will be the fourth state championship game in the last nine years for Hicks, who led the Knights to the 2002 Group AAA title.

Cave Spring defeated Brunswick 39-33 in overtime last year. The Knights lost to the Bulldogs for the 2003 Group AA title.

"As I've gotten older, I've gotten better at just soaking it all in, enjoying each and every day with these guys," Hicks said. "I got off the bus today thinking, 'There are a lot of coaches today playing golf, but I'd rather be here with my guys getting ready to play in a state semifinal game.'

"Just getting in the arena, it's something I'll remember my whole life and I hope these guys will too."

NEW KENT (25-3)

Otey 4-19 0-1 9, Christian 3-6 0-0 7, Kearney 1-4 1-2 3, Williams 6-19 2-2 16, Allen 2-10 0-0 5, Lamb 6-8 2-4 16, Burson 0-2 0-0 0, Gray 1-2 0-2 2, Evans 0-0 1-2 1, Robinson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-70 6-13 59.

CAVE SPRING (24-4)

Overstreet 3-8 3-7 9, Lacy 7-12 7-7 22, Henderson 10-16 10-14 31, Dill 0-2 0-4 0, Hager 4-9 0-0 9, White 0-3 0-0 0, Jacobsen 0-3 0-0 0, Harriman 0-0 0-0 0, Wilkes 0-0 0-0 0, Feldenzer 0-0 0-0 0, Brenner 0-0-0-0 0, Burns 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-53 20-34 71.

New Kent 8 12 27 12--59

Cave Spring 15 10 25 21--71

3-point-goals -- New Kent 7-26 (Lamb 2-3, Williams 2-5, Christian 1-2, Allen 1-5, Otey 1-10, Burson 0-1), Cave Spring 3-18 (Henderson 1-2, Lacy 1-5, Hager 1-6, Jacobsen 0-1, Overstreet 0-2, White 0-2). Rebounds -- New Kent 37 (Otey 9), Cave Spring 51 (Henderson 22). Assists -- New Kent 13 (Williams 4), Cave Spring 13 (Hager, Henderson 4). Total fouls -- New Kent 26, Cave Spring 13. Fouled out -- Allen, Christian.