By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

AUGUSTA – It wasn’t their night.

The Callaway Cavaliers (14-12) reached the Class AA state quarterfinals in large part because of their ability to knock down shows.

Callaway scored 83 points in a first-round overtime win over Banks County, and it put 71 points on the scoreboard in the second round against Chattooga.

The Cavaliers were unable to keep up that pace in Wednesday’s quarterfinal game against Laney, though.

The Cavaliers had some offensive success in the first half when they scored 30 points, but they were held to 14 second-half points on the way to a 63-44 loss.

“It’s not like they played great defense,” Callaway head coach Terry Hayes said. “We missed wide-open shots. It’s not like they clamped down on us. That’s just how the ball bounces.”

Despite Wednesday’s disappointment, it was a special season for the Cavaliers. Callaway won 11 of its final 14 games, and it reached the state quarterfinals for the third time in five years.

“The light bulb clicked on, and they did a lot better,” Hayes said. “I’m proud of them.”

After finishing third in the Region 5-AA tournament, Callaway knew it was going to be on the road in the state tournament.

That wasn’t a problem.

In the first round, Demetrius Coleman scored 43 points in an 86-83 victory over Banks County.

Callaway was on the road again in the second round, and it beat Chattooga 71-59, with Javontay Boddie scoring 23 points.

Against Laney, the Cavaliers started slowly, but they eventually found their shooting touch and were very much in the game at the half, trailing 37-30.

In the second half, Laney was held to 26 points, but that was enough because of Callaway’s offensive struggles.

“We just couldn’t make our shots,” Hayes said.

Callaway also had a difficult time containing Laney’s 6-foot-5 Maurice Paige, who had a career-high 22 points.

“He was big under the basket,” Hayes said. “There was no answer for him.”

Paige, who has signed with Benedict College to play football, was the difference-maker for Laney.

“He’s a very big presence for us, literally and figuratively,” Laney head coach Shawn Parks said. “When he focuses and pays attention to what’s going on, the way he’s been doing lately, it helps us as a team.”

Boddie led the Cavaliers with 10 points, and Javontay Boddie was next with nine points.

Coleman, who had a combined 63 points in the first two state games, had eight points against Laney, and Jalin Shephard also had eight points.

Callaway should be in position to make another tournament run next season with nearly everyone returning, including all five members of the starting lineup.