Bid falls short for Agassi
March 1, 2009 - 10:00 pm
It didn't take long for the Agassi Prep boys basketball team to announce its presence in its first season in Class 2A.
Only one year removed from competing as an independent, the Stars won the 2A Southern League tournament and reached the state title game.
Andre Agassi himself was even on hand Saturday to cheer on the school he founded in 2001.
But the Stars' breakthrough season ended in heartbreak, with an 81-78 loss to Needles (Calif.) in the state final at the Orleans Arena.
"It's really very painful for these kids because they've achieved so much," Agassi Prep coach David Claerbaut said. "In a week, these youngsters will realize that they've taken Agassi to heights that no one could believe would happen in their first (2A) year.
"There will be a really sweet feeling about this season. Incomplete, yes, but there will be a lot of happiness about what they achieved."
Agassi Prep (17-11) led 70-66 early in the fourth quarter, but Needles responded with a 13-5 run.
A layup by Jacoby Whitehead pulled the Stars within 80-78 in the final 10 seconds, but the Mustangs took an 81-78 lead on a free throw by Darra Russell with 8.3 seconds left.
DeShawn Battle's attempt at a game-tying 3-pointer rimmed out just before time expired.
Battle, who entered the game leading the Stars at 20.6 points, finished with 14.
He sat out the entire third quarter with three fouls by halftime.
Agassi Prep starting center James Turner fouled out, and three teammates had four fouls apiece.
"It affected greatly who I could play," Claerbaut said of the foul trouble. "What substitutions were made was dictated more by fouls than strategy."
Quincy Brown led Agassi Prep with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Dimitri Amos had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Aerontay Shepherd added 12 points.
The Stars lost despite sizable advantages in rebounding (60-39) and bench points (19-0).
The reasons?
Stevie Kidd poured in 27 points and Russell 25 for Needles (31-6), which won its first state title since 2002.
The two seniors met in a teary-eyed embrace afterward.
"We were just very excited, emotional and a lot of things else," Kidd said of the postgame moment. "It was our last year, two seniors. We really wanted this the most."
Kidd left the game with a sprained left ankle late in the third quarter, but had it taped and was back for the fourth. He was helped off the floor by teammates and emerged from the locker room with ice wrapped around his ankle.
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