Despite Maddening Comebacks, Winthrop Falls to High Point in Championship Game

Credit: ESPN

Johnson City, T.N. – For the third time this season, the Winthrop Eagles and the High Point Panthers squared off in a rubber match to decide who would go dancing.

By Joshua Frye, Sidelines Sports Network

Winthrop’s Miraculous Run to the Finals

The first two games for Winthrop in the tournament were not easily won. 

In the quarterfinals, the Eagles took on a pesky Charleston Southern team that was extremely upset-minded. 

In front of an announced crowd of 1,715 fans, the Eagles screamed back down eight with less than half a minute in regulation to win their game. Josh Meo hit a huge three to put the Eagles within four with a matter of seconds to go before getting two steals to help propel Winthrop to the victory. The first steal delivered a Kody Clouet and-1 that brought the Eagles within a point. The second steal set Logan Duncomb up with a clutch layup to put the Eagles up for good. The Eagles would go on to seal the deal on a pair of free throws from Clouet and Kareem Rozier, winning 86-81.

Logan Duncomb, despite playing limited minutes on a broken foot, led all Eagles with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, all while only playing 16 minutes of basketball. Kody Clouet added 19 and 9, while Daylen Berry added 13 and 8. 

A’lahn Sumler led the Bucs with 22 points and 6 rebounds with Luke Williams behind with 18 points, 5 assists, and 3 boards.  

The second game for the Eagles found them in another thriller as they took on the Presbyterian Blue Hose. 

Kody Clouet led the Eagles to a win behind a 17-point showing in a 73-71 win over the Blue Hose. Winthrop fended off Triston Wilson (26 points and five assists) and the Carl Parrish (who threw up the game-winning shot against Radford) to win the game. 

Hot Start Turns Cold in Title Game

Despite starting hot from the field against High Point, the Eagles ran out of gas as the Panthers put pedal-to-the-metal on Winthrop, winning 91-76. 

Rob Martin, the Big South Newcomer of the Year, shot 6-of-19 from the floor and 11-of-13 from the charity stripe to power High Point to a second consecutive Big South Chip. 

The story of the game, however, came down to an absolute masterclass from Cam’Ron Fletcher, who had been a non-factor the last two meetings. 

Fletcher scored 17 points and grabbed a tournament record 19 rebounds to shut down the Eagles’ defense. 

Winthrop looked to have the game in their hands early behind a 17-point first half showing for Daylen Berry, even as they trailed by 6 at the half. 

The Eagles cut into the lead in the second half, eventually taking a one-point advantage of their own nearly two minutes into the second. That would be the last lead Winthrop would see as a controversial double-technical foul on Seif Hendawy and Youssouf Singare would shift momentum to the Panthers. 

After a foul on Duncomb had been called, a dead-ball tech had seemed to be assessed on Singare for prying the ball out of Duncomb’s hands after the whistle had blown. Hendawy stepped in and helped pull the altercation apart but was assessed an off-setting technical for his actions, ruled as “excessive contact.”

This seemed to be the nail in the coffin for the Eagles as they could never find rhythm again in the game. Kody Clouet made a trio of three-pointers to bring the game within single digits but the High Point offense was too much to handle. 

Kareem Rozier scored 22 points, Daylen Berry added 18 and Logan Duncomb added 17 and 10.

The title game appearance was the second consecutive for both teams and the 20^th all-time for Winthrop. In championship games, Winthrop is 13-7 with all seven losses coming by nine or more points. 

The Eagles look to reload in the off-season following on of the most successful seasons this decade.

From the Sidelines’ Big South All-Tournament Big Five

Rob Martin, High Point

Logan Duncomb, Winthrop

Kody Clouet, Winthrop

Terry Anderson, High Point

Cam’Ron Fletcher, High Point

From the Sidelines’ Tournament MOP

Cam Fletcher, High Point

From the Sidelines’ Tournament Most Impactful Player

Logan Duncomb, Winthrop

A Final Word

Fans,

I want to personally thank you for taking the time to watch this incredible Winthrop team this year. 

As someone who built up a student section at Winthrop to now covering them from the Sidelines, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for supporting these fellas this year. The team has been one of the most impactful under the Mark Prosser regime and certainly had it’s impact felt in the country this season. 

To everyone who doubted us,

We want to thank you too. Your doubt on Winthrop fueled a fire that provided a spark that no one in the conference saw coming. This sparked powered surges against powerhouse opponents in Nebraska and Arkansas and saw huge wins over rivals Queens and the first win over High Point at home in a couple of years. 

To our non-conference opponents,

Thank you for providing stellar opportunities for us to see this team grow. Nebraska gave us confidence in our three-point shooting and Arkansas a paint presence that hasn’t been felt since DJ Burns. Playing Winthrop prepared our guys for a strong conference play that yielded another conference title appearance and a 13-3 record. 

To the coaches, 

You have molded boys into men this season. We were not expecting the unexpected. We were not ready for a Logan Duncomb break-out season and yet we got it. You dug deep and re-established dominance in the paint and in the conference. There is a legacy at Winthrop and you are actively contributing to it. Thank you for continuing to bridge the gap between the community, the students, the fans, and the team.

To Ryan Locklair,

Thank you for continuing our legacy at Winthrop. You have helped this coaching staff provide energy at games that we had sought after for four years. I am incredibly proud to let you take over for me and Alex and see the great things you have accomplished heading The Flock. It’s not the same watching from afar but it’s entertaining nonetheless. Keep it up, brother. 

Everstand,

Joshua Frye