Friday, February 6, 2009

Blue stages furious comeback, falls just short

On Thursday night at Roosevelt Elementary, the Binghamton 5/6 Blue squad found itself 20 points in the hole during the second quarter to a well balanced Athens-6 team. But Binghamton came all the way back to grab a 1-point lead with under two minutes to play. However, Blue fell just short of pulling off the dramatic comeback win, falling to Athens 56-53 in a thriller.

Down 34-14 late in the second, Binghamton Blue scored the last two baskets of the first half and went into intermission facing a 34-18 deficit. The second half yielded a much different effort, however.

To end the third quarter, Blue outscored Athens 10-4 and trailed 42-30 entering the fourth. After trading baskets early in the final quarter, Binghamton trailed 49-34. Then Andre Hawkins caught fire, fueling Binghamton during a 16-0 run.

Hawkins hit one 3-pointer (49-37), followed by a Sarbast Doski inside field goal (49-39). Two more Hawkins treys got it to 49-45, and a Nate Oliva free throw put the deficit at just 3 points (49-46). Hawkins hit a field goal (49-48) then canned two free throws to give Binghamton its first lead (50-49) since midway through the first quarter.

Athens had an answer, though, coming down to convert on an inside feed, regaining the lead, then hitting a free throw to convert the traditional 3-point play (52-50, Athens). Binghamton couldn't score on its next possession, and Athens added to its lead (54-50).

But Binghamton wasn't finished. Hawkins hit his fifth 3-pointer of the night to draw within 54-53 with 8 seconds left in regulation. Blue was forced to foul and Athens hit both its free throws (56-53) with 5.9 seconds to go.

Blue inbounded and brought the ball to half court before calling a time out with a little more than 3 seconds remaining. Nick Snyder inbounded the ball at midcourt to Hawkins, near the top of the 3-point arc. Hawkins was able to get off a shot with about 1.5 seconds left, but an Athens defender got a hand on the ball to end the contest.

Athens 56, Binghamton 53
Athens-6...................16 - 18 - 8 - 14 -- 56
Binghamton 5/6.......10 - 8 - 12 - 20 -- 53

Stats:
* Andre Hawkins: 25 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block (five 3-pointers) (2-for-2 on free throws)
* Sarbast Doski: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 steals (2-for-7 on free throws) (fouled out)
* Nicky Snyder: 4 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal
* Nate Gaster: 4 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
* Isiah Turner: 1 point, 4 rebounds, 1 block (1-for-2 on free throws)
* Nate Oliva: 1 point, 2 blocks, 1 steal (1-for-2 on free throws)
* Zion Burwell: 3 steals, 1 rebound
* Roberto Jensen: 2 steals, 1 rebound
* Kyeem Holmes: 1 rebound

In a game earlier this week (Tuesday at Roosevelt), the Binghamton 4/5 team played a very competitive contest against Maine-Endwell 5/6 Gold, falling to the squad from M-E, 45-42.

Stats:
* Anthony Ferranti: 9 points
* Kyeem Holmes: 8 points
* Nate Gaster: 8 points
* Garrett Alapeck: 6 points
* Austin Becker-Harris: 4 points
* Casey Walsh: 4 points
* Jonah Chambers: 3 points

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