Doniphan players celebrate after winning the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 championship Friday night at the Bess Activity Center. (Paul Davis/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor

This year it was Doniphan's turn.

The Dons used a stifling man defense, crashed the boards and got 27 points from senior Charles Wilson to win the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 title, beating Malden 49-43.

"We remember what it felt like last year to lose to them by two," Wilson said. "But we came back with redemption and won this game."

Doniphan (22-5) will face New Madrid County Central (16-10) in the first round of the state playoffs at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday in Poplar Bluff's Peters Gym.

Friday night at a packed Bess Activity Center, Doniphan held off the Green Wave (21-7) for the program's 10th district title and first since 2006.

The Dons surged ahead in the third quarter after the teams were tied 17-17 at halftime. The largest lead of the game was just eight points.

"If you're a defensive-minded person it was a good game to watch," Dons coach Jason Andrews said.

Fittingly, this defensive gem was played on Gene Bess Court with Doniphan in a man defense and Malden primarily in a 2-3 zone.

Both game plans worked -- the Dons shot 33.3 percent from the field and the Wave hit 36.4 -- but Doniphan scored seven points off turnovers while Malden did not convert one of the Dons' nine turnovers into points. Doniphan also held a slight advantage under the boards, 36-32.

"It took everybody on that floor tonight," Andrews said. "We gave them one shot and against an athletic team like that, you can only give them one shot."

Greg Davis added six points for the Dons while Tyler Collins and Chandler Wilson each scored five.

Justin Placher and Mitch Granier each hit a 3-pointer as the Dons went 3-for-11 from long range.

Nick Perkins scored 21 points to lead Malden while fellow senior Leonard Burton added 12 points.

The Green Wave had the ball down four with 23 seconds left but a 3-pointer missed and Charles Wilson came away with the rebound. Doniphan hit just enough free throws in the final minute -- 5 of 10 -- to hold back the Wave.

"We missed so many opportunities to score," Malden coach Robert Ison said. "We had our chances, we had tons and tons of chances."

There were six lead changes and five ties in the first half including after one quarter (10-10) and at the half. Neither team scored for just over three minutes of the second quarter before Malden erased a 17-12 deficit with consecutive baskets by Andy Matthews and Burton.

The Dons led 21-20 before Wilson scored off an inbound pass three minutes into the second half. He then found Granier in the corner where the junior hit a 3-pointer, and after a steal by Placher, Doniphan led 28-20 when Wilson scored off a pass from Davis.

"That was a huge shot from Mitch," Andrews said.

Granier caught a knee-high bounce pass from Wilson in front of his own bench and got off the shot with a Malden defender running at him.

"I had all the faith in Mitch to knock down that 3," Wilson said. "I'm glad I got it to him because that helped us."

Malden pulled within four after Burton twice scored in the low post off passes from Perkins with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. The Dons, however, answered with Wilson taking a charge then posting up and scoring off a spin move for a 32-26 lead.

Wilson's offensive rebound led to a pair of free throws to start the fourth-quarter scoring but Burton got a putback and Perkins scored to pull Malden within 34-30. Chandler Wilson scored following an offensive rebound by his twin brother but the Dons twice missed chances to extend their lead.

"We had trouble finishing shots that I think we're capable of finishing but give their defense credit," Andrews said. "Every shot that we (took) was checked and challenged."

With 4:14 left, Perkins got a three-point play to cut Doniphan's lead to three and the senior later hit two free throws to pull Malden within 38-35.

Each time, however, the Dons answered

Charles Wilson hit his shot from the paint with 2:55 to go for a 40-35 lead and Collins got a defensive rebound leading to a free throw. Collins then missed a one-and-one at the line but had the rebound tipped to him and Wilson later got another offensive rebound leading to a pair of free throws and a 42-35 lead with 2:06 left.

"When they miss you've got to rebound, period," Ison said. "That's it, you can't give them two or three tries at it. We did that tonight and that's the outcome."

The teams had split the previous four meeting over the last two seasons before Friday night. Doniphan won the only game with Malden this season, a 48-30 win in the semifinals at Bloomfield where the Dons finished second to Hayti. The OFC champions have won 14 of 15 since then.

Malden, which won 20 games for a second straight season will lose starting seniors , Perkins, Burton, Marvin Fields and Chad Hudson, who scored three points.

"They have a great team, they had a great year and I love playing against them," Wilson said of Malden. "I'm just glad we came out on top."