Three-point barrage sparks Basehor-Linwood boys into state championship game

After watching game video of the Basehor-Linwood boys, Ottawa coach Cliff McCullough made his decision on his team’s defensive strategy entering the Kansas Class 4A Division I semifinal — the Cyclones would focus on shutting down the inside game.

“We watched film, and 95 percent of their scoring comes from attacking the rim,” McCullough said. “That’s what we chose to take away. I thought we did a great job defensively. We were saying, ‘they’re going to have to hit 10 threes to beat us.’”

Well, Basehor-Linwood junior Jahron McPherson made six of nine three-pointers to lead the Bobcats to a 51-44 victory on Friday. The Bobcats advance to the state title game at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday at the Bicentennial Center.

“Jahron went off,” McCullough said. “He had a career night. Hats off to him. We took (Patrick) Muldoon out of the game, (McPherson) stepped up. That’s what you have to do.”

While Muldoon had 15 points in Basehor-Linwood’s quarterfinal win, he had four points in the semifinal.

McPherson hit his first three-pointer nearly three minutes into the game for the Bobcats’ first points.

“Oh yeah, I felt it. After the first three, I was feeling it,” said McPherson, who finished with a game-high 25 points. “… They packed it in, so I tried to find my stroke.”

With Ottawa leading 7-6 late in the first period, McPherson hit his second three. He hit another midway through the second period for a 17-11 lead. Then he ended the first half with a three and opened the third quarter with another for a 28-14 lead.

McPherson scored his last points with 1:29 remaining, good for a 48-34 lead.

“My teammates found me a lot,” McPherson said. “They’re great teammates. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am.… They sunk everybody down. They left us open. We had to hit shots.”

Basehor-Linwood made 19 of 41 shots and Joseph Gorman added two three-pointers. Carson Fliger added 12 points, hitting five of eight shots.

This story was originally published March 13, 2015 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Three-point barrage sparks Basehor-Linwood boys into state championship game."