Memorable night for Cavaliers

Published 12:50 am Wednesday, February 10, 2021

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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

On a night where the Callaway High seniors were honored, it was a 3-pointer made by a freshman that really had the gym hopping.

In the closing moments of Tuesday’s 68-40 win over Bremen, Callaway freshman Deshun Coleman was on the court with his older brother, Demetrius Coleman, who along with the other seniors on the team was recognized before the game.

Deshun Coleman hasn’t been a part of the varsity team this season, but head coach Andre Johnson wanted to give the brothers a chance to play together, to share that moment on the court.

“I wanted to give those brothers a memory together,” Johnson said.

With less than 10 seconds to play, Deshun Coleman received a pass from his brother, and he unleashed a 3-pointer that found the bottom of the net, setting off a massive celebration, and no one was happier than Demetrius Coleman, who was all smiles.

“It didn’t matter how many points I scored. As long as that would have happened, I would have been all right,” said a beaming Coleman after the game.

Coleman, who has been such a huge part of Callaway athletics in football and basketball, did plenty of damage of his own with 25 points, and he was 9-of-9 on free-throw attempts.

Javontay Boddie, who like Coleman is a four-year starter in basketball, added 11 points, and he had his usual stellar all-around game.

Seniors Jalin Shephard, Marvize Moss and Chauncey Bradford also contributed to the victory, and Johnson appreciates everything those players have provided this season.

“The seniors, I told them from the beginning, it’s your team,” said Johnson, who is in his first season as Callaway’s head coach.  I’m just here coaching. You guys have the chemistry, the will, the determination. I’m just guiding.”

Johnson is particularly appreciative of Boddie, who helped keep things together while football season was still going on and the basketball team was extremely short-handed.

“I really give a lot of credit to Javontay Boddie,” Johnson said. “He’s been leading since the beginning when we didn’t have football players.”

Boddie, Johnson added, “has the will and determination of a lion. If he wants it, he’s going to get it.”

Bremen was within eight points early in the fourth quarter, but Callaway finished the game on a 24-4 to win going away.

The Cavaliers (8-9 overall) finished with an 8-0 Region 5-AA record, and they’ll be the number one seed and the host team for next week’s region tournament.

“We should do some special things in the (region tournament), and when we get done with that, we’ll be ready for the playoffs,” Boddie said.

Coleman, who was the starting quarterback for the football team that won the state championship in December, said the Cavaliers have worked hard to get to this point.

“We go hard in practice,” Coleman said. “Whatever we do in practice is what happens on the court. I believe in this team 100 percent.”

Bremen came into the game with only one win this season, but it hung tough for much of the game, and a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter cut Callaway’s lead to 44-36.

Coleman responded with a three-point play to put the Cavaliers ahead by 11, and they didn’t look back.

When Devin Dowell hit a 3-pointer with 4:40 to play the Cavaliers led by 20, and they continued to pull away.

Coleman led the fourth-quarter charge with nine points.