Livingston Central used a strong start to the game and fourth quarter to hand Caldwell County a 70-55 setback Saturday and advance to the championship game of the Second Region All-A Classic.
Cameron Dean and Seth Hosick teamed up to help the Cardinals jump out to a 14-2 lead. Caldwell chipped away as Livingston began to settle for jump shots. Caldwell pulled to within 19-11 after one quarter and got as close as 20-19. Livingston scored five of the first half’s final seven points to lead 25-21 at intermission.
Caldwell County had trouble against Livingston’s zone in the second half, struggling to get good looks inside. Dylan Sherer knocked down a 3-pointer to put Livingston up 38-32 late in the third quarter. The Cardinals again pushed the lead out to 43-34 after three quarters. Caldwell cut the deficit to 47-40 with 4:48 left, but Dean swished a 3-pointer from the corner to push the lead back to 50-40.
Livingston led 64-46 with 1:20 left and kept Caldwell at bay at the free throw line, hitting 22-of-28 for the game and 17-of-20 in the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals shot 49-percent from the field (20/41) and hit 8-of-15 behind the arc. Caldwell County shot 38-percent (21/56).
Dean and Hosick each scored 19 points for Livingston, while Cameron Head nailed 13-of-14 free throws to finish with 16 points.
The Tigers got 23 points from Derrin Boyd and nine points from Jameer Riley.
Caldwell County, looking for their first boys’ All-A region title, dropped to 8-9 with the loss. Livingston Central (13-8) will advance to their first All-A region championship game in 18 years. They have never won an All-A region title. The Cardinals will play UHA Sunday at 2pm.
