CLASS 2A NORTHEAST BASKETBALL REGIONAL: Cleveland’s Kalil Johnson Posts Triple-Double In Victory Over Collinsville

JACKSONVILLE – The Collinsville Panthers had faced a brutal basketball schedule all season long, but even with all the quality opponents the Panthers had played, they hadn’t battled against the likes of Cleveland 6-foot-8 junior guard/forward Kahlil Johnson.

They didn’t have much of answer for him on Friday.

Johnson posted a triple-double with 31 points, 13 rebounds, 10 blocked shots and five assists in leading Cleveland to a 71-49 victory in the Class 2A Northeast Regional semifinals at Jacksonville State University.

“We had a hard time containing 24 (Johnson) in the first half, and then to top that off, when we did help on him, he found those open shooters,” Collinsville coach Jon Tidmore said. “I thought then we would’ve had to score with them because of the way they were shooting it, and we didn’t.

“We haven’t faced anybody that big. The big guys we have faced have been on the block and not a guard-type with that kind of skill set. He’s far and away the best individual player.”

But before the Panthers were fully introduced to Johnson’s talents, they made a 7-0 first-quarter run. That lead and early momentum was quickly erased behind four Johnson treys. He finished with five 3-pointers in the game.

“I was really praying about this win,” Johnson said. “Last year we lost on a buzzer beater (45-43 to Fyffe), but we found a way to win this game.”

Cleveland head coach Conny Lowery applauded Johnson’s all-around effort.

“When you’ve got the skill set he does, plus the height, and you’re willing to be unselfish, that’s good for a team,” he said. “That gives all the players an opportunity to find some easy baskets, and he finds them when they’re open.”

Johnson did just that in the second quarter. Cleveland (19-8) managed to go on a 21-7 run to take a 37-22 halftime advantage.

Johnson’s performance spoiled a 27-point, five-rebound outing by Collinsville sophomore guard/forward Austin Posey. Posey connected on five treys of his own, including four at halftime.

But the Panthers (18-13) couldn’t find much scoring elsewhere. Dominick Brockitt and Joshua Jones were Collinsville’s next highest scores with six points apiece.

“Other than (Posey), we managed to get a hand in their face,” Lowery said. “Our guards moved really quick. Our forwards moved out to the corners really quick. You hold a team to 49 points, you’re supposed to win. Defense wins in these type of atmospheres. Other than 30 (Posey), I thought we did a great job.”

Cleveland took a 59-40 at the end of the third quarter and outscored Collinsville 12-9 in the fourth for the final.

Peyton Haelrig and Micah Fallin both scored nine points for Cleveland. Haelrig also had three assists. All of Fallin’s points came on 3-pointers. Bryan Cornelius finished with seven points.

Tidmore said he was proud of how far the Panthers got this season.

“We’re very young,” he said. “You’re looking at the beginning of the season and your two leading scorers were sophomores. We also started an eighth grader. You worry about winning close games, and our schedule was brutal. At one point we were 11-11, but we finally started playing some better defense. They started to grow and mature a little bit. I’m proud of them for getting down here.”

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