Katrina Hurrigan

Whites Creek kept its basketball season alive with a strong defensive effort Thursday night.

The visiting Cobras held David Lipscomb under nine points in each of the last three quarters for a 38-31 win in the District 10-AA boys tournament.

Fifth-seeded Whites Creek (15-10) advanced to the semifinal at No. 1 Christ Presbyterian Academy.

“I thought we played excellent defense baseline to baseline, sideline to sideline,” Cobras Coach Ricky Collins said. “We were cutting off the passing lanes, we were stepping to the ball, we were keeping them from doing what they wanted to do and we were closing out on the shooters because if you give them a step they can knock it down.”

Guard Kevonta Black led the Cobras with 15 points and Cameron Prather added 13.

The game was tied 19-19 at halftime, but Whites Creek opened the third quarter with a 12-3 run.

“Our coach took a timeout and just told us, ‘Just play hard and play our game and it’ll come through for us,’” Black said. “Even though they had their little run we came back and we worked hard.”

Fourth-seed Lipscomb (15-13) went on a 9-0 run and Luke Simpson’s 3-pointer tied the game 31-31 with 5:18 left. Those were the last points for the Mustangs, whose season also ended in the first round of the 10-AA tournament last year.

“They’ve got a ton of quickness and they did a lot to disrupt us in terms of reaching from behind, getting tips, picking up loose balls, switching screens and things like that defensively,” Lipscomb Coach Ritchie Pickens said. “They try to create chaos and take advantage of that.”

Cody Connally, a 6-foot-5 post player who has signed as a pitcher with Louisiana-Monroe, led the Mustangs with 11 points.