Prep Playoffs CITY BOYS : Cleveland a Quarter Short, 81-80 : Banning’s Rally Ruins Wilson’s 40

Banning High overcame an eight-point deficit after three quarters and made eight of 10 free-throw attempts in the final stanza to defeat Cleveland, 81-80, in a City 4-A quarterfinal playoff game Wednesday night before a packed house at Cleveland High.

The Pilots trailed, 70-62, entering the fourth quarter but rallied as the Cavaliers scored just four points in the first seven and a half minutes of the quarter.

Banning’s Reggie McCoy, who scored just six points on the night, nailed four crucial free throws in the last two minutes to end the season for the Cavaliers. Cleveland, which was 22-2 this season, was seeded second entering the playoffs.

2 Free Throws

Trailing, 74-73, McCoy stole the ball from Tyrone Mitchell, drove to the basket and was fouled. His two free throws with 1:16 left gave the Pilots a lead they would not relinquish.

After Cleveland’s Trevor Wilson missed a shot, Joe Johnson made two more free throws for Banning.

The Cavaliers, whose winning streak was stopped at 18 straight, then turned the ball over again. Eric Cooper made a spectacular reverse layup with 35 seconds left to give Banning a 79-74 lead.

Cooper, a 6-4 guard who will play at the University of Arizona next season, was the star for the Pilots. He scored 31 points, 21 in the first half when Banning built a 46-42 lead.

Came Out Smoking

The Cavaliers came out smoking in the second half, making nine of 12 shots and grabbing a 55-49 lead. Wilson, a 6-7 junior forward who scored 40 points, had 11 in the quarter, while center Andre Washington had eight. Washington finished with 18 points.

With its eight-point lead, Cleveland decided to slow down the action in the fourth quarter. That tactic, Banning Coach Don Nichols said, hurt the Cavaliers.

“They lost their momentum,” Nichols said. “We were able to force some turnovers. It was the right thing for them to do. But it worked to our advantage.”

Manual Arts Next

The Pilots, who got 24 points and three dunks from Johnson, next play Manual Arts, a 59-56 winner over Fremont in overtime Wednesday, in the semifinals Friday at the Sports Arena.

Banning has lost four games this year to Manual Arts, but, said Cooper: “It’s our time to win now.

“Cleveland is one of the best teams we’ve played this year,” Cooper said. “They have the best talent. But they don’t play together. They go too much one-on-one.”

Mitchell had 13 points for Cleveland, but only two in the second half. He fouled out of the game, as did Washington.