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NEW CASTLE, KY. — You won’t find Collins High School ranked among the top 20 boys’ basketball teams in the state this season.

But you just might see the Titans at the Sweet 16 later this month.

Playing its best ball of the season with two recent additions to the roster, Collins took a step closer to the school’s first regional title on Wednesday by outlasting South Oldham 69-63 in the opening round of the Eighth Region at Henry County.

“They’re so athletic and very big,” South Oldham coach Steve Simpson said. “Our guys battled, but they’re a good team playing well right now.”

Senior center Brian Stone, who led the state in the regular-season in field-goal percentage at 75.6 percent, led four players in double figures with 24 points and 15 rebounds. The recent Malone College commitment was 12 for 12 from the field.

Junior Dez Marshall added 17 points, while Buddy Johnson chipped in 13. Terez Smith, who recently transferred along with his brother Norvis from Trenton, Mich., chipped in 11 points and six rebounds.

Collins (23-10) was 26 of 44 from the field and won the rebounding battle 39-20. The Titans had 17 assists with the 26 field goals.

“If our guard play is consistent, then we can win games,” coach Chris Gaither said. “With Brian and Dez and now Terez, we have some guys that can score. We can be the best team in the state if we get consistent guard play.”

The Titans will play Simon Kenton, the other winner Wednesday, in Monday’s 6 p.m. semifinal. The title game is slated for Tuesday night.

With Stone and Marshall, the Titans were already considered a legitimate contender for the regional title. But the Smith brothers (Terez is a 6-foot-6 junior and Norvis is a 6-4 senior) showed up and gave the Titans more depth.

South Oldham, which finishes 20-10, had three players in double figures, including Shae Goodlett with 17 and Jack Sherry with 16. Sherry was 4 of 10 from 3-point range, and the Dragons finished 24 of 58, including 9 of 25 from three.

“We traded a bad quarter for a good quarter in the fourth,” Gaither said.

South Oldham 15 13 21 14 - 63
Collins 18 19 11 21 - 69

South Oldham (20-10) – Goodlett 17, Haysley 5, Cattina 1, Sherry 16, Pendleton 6, Greenwood 10, Young 8.
Collins (23-10) – Brooks 1, Stone 24, Marshall 17, Johnson 13, Manica 3, Smith 11.

3-point goals - Sherry 4, Goodlett 2, Haysley 1, Greenwood 2, Johnson 3.

http://saxo.highschoolsports.net/article...on?Avis=B2