Posted: Saturday, January 9, 2010 1:45 am | Updated: 1:51 am, Sat Jan 9, 2010.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
GREENTOWN -- With 58.8 seconds remaining in regulation, the Eastern High School Comets had its largest lead of 7 points against Mid-Indiana Conference rival Maconaquah High School. Then the Braves found a way to tie the game for the 11th time with a basket from senior guard Curtis Hyde at the buzzer.
"I saw a few heads hanging down there for a moment after they hit the two to tie it," Eastern coach Duane Keisling said. "We kept our heads up when we needed to (in overtime)."
In the recent games with each other they had been close and this game was no different. Throughout the game there were 11 ties and 17 lead changes. It was not until the fourth quarter until a team could get more than a six-point lead.
The Comets and Braves ran contrasting styles of offense. The Comets focused on using its centers, senior Joby Renbarger and sophomore Joey Price, and the Braves ran their offense through their guards, seniors Nick George and Curtis Hyde.
The first quarter featured four ties and two lead changes as Eastern struck first to go up 2-0 on a Renbarger field goal. In the quarter, six Braves scored led by Hyde's four points. Eastern had five players score in the quarter and were led by senior Brandon Hainlen and Price with four points each. After the first quarter the game was tied at 15-15.
The Braves took the lead first in the second quarter, but it was short-lived as the Comets went on an 8-0 run, all scored by Price. It was not until 5:19 to go in the quarter until the Braves stopped the run with two free throws from junior guard Devin Shaffer. Even with the run, the Braves began chipping at the lead to again tie the game at halftime, 26-26.
The third quarter featured six lead changes and two ties as neither team could get a lead by more than three points. The Braves got that lead with 3:01 remaining in the quarter after junior forward David Carter scored on a free throw to go up 36-33. But like the previous quarters, this ended in a tie as well after Eastern junior Dylan Buck made a three-pointer after the Braves added another field goal from George.
The fourth quarter was marred with missed free throws from both teams. The Braves shot 6/6 through three quarters, but they only hit 8/16 from the line in the quarter. Eastern was no better shooting 5/13 from the line in the quarter after shooting 7/12 through three quarters. Each team had their opportunity to win the game in the quarter.
"Each of us probably had opportunities to probably put somebody away if either one of us had hit any percentage of free throws," Keisling said. "We had opportunities just like they did to go up and put some icing on the cake there maybe in regulation."
With 3:29 to go in regulation, the Comets had a one-point lead, 44-43 and they found their way to a seven-point lead with just under a minute to go. The Braves then went on a 9-2 run, including five points in the final 10 seconds, to tie the game at 54-54.
In overtime, the free throw line continued to plague the Braves, but it was not the same for the Comets. While the Braves shot 1/6 from the line, the Comets shot 8/9 to get the victory, 66-62.
Maconaquah coach Lucas Zartman said his team has been up and down when it comes to free throws.
"We're right there," Zartman said. "Again, I think it's mental. Understanding how to win ball games and what it takes to win ball games."
Zartman also said that the team cannot dwell on the overtime loss as they have ranked and conference foe Peru High School next week.
The Comets had two players in double-figures scoring and were led by Price's 25 points off the bench and Renbarger's 12 points. Seven players scored for the Comets.
The Braves also had two players in double-figures scoring. George's 25 points and Hyde's 20 points led the team. Six players scored for the Braves.
Eastern (4-3) next travels to Carroll High School Saturday to take on the (4-4) Cougars. Maconaquah (4-5) plays Peru (9-1) at home on Jan. 15.
Scores by quarter:
Maconaquah 15 11 12 16 8 =62
Eastern 15 11 12 16 12 =66
Other scores from Friday:
(No. 4-3A) Peru 67, (No. 14-4A) Kokomo 53
Logansport 80, Western 61
Hamilton Heights 51, Taylor 46
Lewis Cass 67, Tri-Central 61
Saturday games (7:30 starts):
Kokomo at McCutcheon
West Lafayette at Western
Eastern at Carroll
Northwestern at Clinton Central
Taylor at Mississinewa
Oak Hill at Peru
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