LAKE HAMILTON — As he sat behind Marion’s bench Wednesday, Patriots sophomore center Tim Ceasar (6-8, 190 pounds) was continuing the learning process.
Ceasar was behind the bench instead of on the court because he was recently suspended for not taking care of his business on and off the court.
He instead turned the stage over to 6-4 senior Shaun Doss, who had 26 points - including a game-winning basket with 1.8 seconds left in double-overtime - as Marion downed Sheridan 61-59 at the Class 6A state tournament.
“I wish I could be out there, but I have learned my lesson,” said Ceasar, who is getting interest from Arkansas, Kansas, Virginia Tech, SMU and others.
It was a disappointing ending to a season that had gone well for Ceasar, who is regarded as one the best big men in Arkansas in the class of 2019.
“I think I came a long way this season, just with my jump shooting and learning to play on this level,” Ceasar said. “But I have to keep working and get better.”
Marion coach Irving Clay, whose Patriots (14-13) will battle Razorback signee Daniel Gafford and El Dorado (26-4) Thursday at 5:30 p.m., said it was best that Ceasar learned that lesson now.
“He had some things that happened - and those kind of things happen - but hopefully it will make him a better person,” Clay said. “You can’t just look away and think things will go away.
“We will always do what is best for Tim and it’s going to be all right. The kid has a good heart and sometimes things happen.”
Ceasar cheered on his team from directly behind the bench and you could see him worrying when it appeared Sheridan might win in regulation and the first overtime.
“I know it is hurting him to not be out there with his teammates and letting them down,” Clay said. “His rebounding alone and having somebody to protect the rim would have made sure the game would have never been that close.
“It is hard for him to understand now, but he will learn that it is the best thing for him down the line if you want to play this game and play it the right way. You have to play right and you have to act right.”
Ceasar has a nice inside game and jump shot, Clay said.
“He has a nice jump shot and I quote (former Razorback and NBA center) Joe Kleine in that a good post man has to have a great jump shot,” Clay said. “That’s what we are working on as well as his free throws.”
Ceasar has been to the Razorback Elite Basketball Camp the last two years.
“I would really, really love to get an offer from Arkansas,” Ceasar said. “That would mean a lot to me.”
He was part of the Arkansas Wings’ 15-and-under national championship team last summer.
“It was a great experience,” Ceasar said. “We had a lot of success and I got a lot better.”
Ceasar generally is regarded as the third-best 2019 prospect in the state behind a pair of guards in Little Rock Christian’s Justice Hill and Baptist Prep’s Isaac McBride, who also was on the Wings’ 15-and-under championship team.
“He is a sophomore and sophomores make those sophomore mistakes,” Clay said. “But he has got the thing you can’t reach and that’s size. He is 6-8 at 15, 16 years old and he made still grow another four or five inches.”
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All three of Arkansas’ 2017 signees and one of its four 2018 commits will be in state tournament action Thursday.
Gafford will play at 5:30 p.m. at Lake Hamilton High School. Jonesboro 2018 guard Desi Sills (6-1, 170) will play Friday at 5:30 p.m. against the winner of Jacksonville and Lake Hamilton.
Little Rock Mills’ Darious Hall (6-7, 210) will lead his 26-2 team against host Magnolia in the Class 5A Tournament.
Little Rock Parkview - featuring 2017 Razorback signee Khalil Garland (6-6, 190) and 2018 pledge Ethan Henderson (6-9, 190) - will play in Magnolia at 8:30 p.m. against the winner of Wednesday night’s late Harrison-Greene County Tech contest.