Quartz Hill’s Big Finish Produces a Golden Title

Quartz Hill High broke open a close game in the second half and won its first Golden League title since 1992 with a 71-54 victory over Littlerock on Friday night.

The Rebels (19-7, 8-2 in league play), who lost to Lancaster twice, defeated Littlerock (20-5, 7-3) for the second time this season and prevented the Lobos from winning their first boys’ basketball title.

The game turned dramatically after Quartz Hill took a 31-30 halftime lead.

Brady Chelette scored nine of his game-high 24 points in the third quarterand keyed a 6-0 Quartz Hill run.

Chelette finished with three three-point baskets in eight attempts and threw a behind-the-back pass to Jason Tomlin, whose layup gave Quartz Hill a 68-52 lead in the final seconds.

“We just feel great about this,” Chelette said. “All the guys wanted a Golden League championship really bad. At halftime, we talked about how we had to up the intensity to put it away.”

The lead changed hands seven times in the first half, including five times in the final three minutes of the second quarter. Chelette’s layup in the final seconds gave Quartz Hill the lead for good.

Quartz Hill made 18 of 33 shots in the second half. David Walker and Tony Johnson each had three-point baskets.

The Rebels led, 52-40, after three quarters. Walker finished with 13 points, including eight in the fourth quarter.

“I can’t say enough about how our seniors stepped up,” Coach Bernard Nichter of Quartz Hill said. “They weren’t going to be denied.”

Jerome Holyfield and Gene Myvett combined for 31 of Littlerock’s points. Holyfield made four three-point baskets and finished with 16 points.