TCC Earns 3 Seed, Loses in First Round of Playoffs

by TCCNN Reporter Randy Pifer
Updated on 2/20/18 at 11:32 PM

The Fightin' Reformers earned their first bid into the WHCBL Playoffs after winning a franchise record seven games.  They earned the 3 seed in the 30 and over bracket and were matched up with the 2 seed Taylors First Baptist.  Taylor's delivered two of TCC's losses on the year with an opening night comeback win and a dismantling in early January.  The Reformers were aware of the task in front of them and vowed to learn from the previous two meetings.  Coach Ryan LaPierre was concerned with their size and knew something had to be done to combat their advantage in the paint.  TCC was at an even greater disadvantage with the loss of their starting front court of Patrick Gomer and Rome Lawson.  Knowing this, The Reformers had to call up a rookie from the developmental league and throw him into the fire immediately.

Josh Payne made his TCC debut and all but carried the team.  TCC jumped all over Taylors in the first half and took a commanding 12-0 lead and still led by 12 at halftime.  Payne was the main reason for the hot start and he finished the game with team highs in both points (21) and rebounds (12).  Payne, unfortunately, got not help from his teammates as no one else finished with more than 8 points  and struggled shooting the ball across the board.  Hugh Carson finished with 8 points and 11 rebounds and Pifer chipped in 10 rebounds, but it was not enough to slow down the hot shooting Taylor's team in the second half.  Taylor's erased their 12 point deficit less than 4 minutes into the second half and quickly took a six point lead.  TCC clawed back into the game and briefly tied it, but wasn't able to hold them off and lost the game 47-42 and was eliminated from the playoffs.

TCC was also without Daniel Brown and Jordan Cobb but did get the return of Sam Ali who finished with a team high assists (4).  TCC goes into the off season with more questions than answers, but one question that seems to have been answered is whether or not Josh Payne was ready for the big league.  After his performance in the playoffs, It would seem that has been answered with a resounding yes!