A last-second shot to tie the game in double overtime fell just short and the Siegel Stars narrowly escaped Charlie Dalton Gym with a 78-75 win over Warren County on Monday night.
The loss was not due to lack of effort by the Pioneers. Trevor Gaines led Warren County with 23 points. The game’s high scorer was Brian Normand of Siegel with 25. He connected six times from behind the 3-point line.
With 6.2 seconds to play in regulation, Warren County trailed by three, 60-57. The ball was inbounded to Krojhn Calbert and he raced across halfcourt and immediately called timeout.
Down to the final 4.1 seconds, the ball was inbounded to Isaac Golden who launched a desperation shot over the Siegel Star defense from well beyond the 3-point line. The Pioneer faithful were on their feet as the shot rattled through. The crowd inside Charlie Dalton Gym was deafening as the team celebrated the late-game heroics.
The score was tied at 60 at the beginning of the first OT. Each team played with a very high level of intensity. Golden broke the tie from the foul line after he rebounded the Stars’ first miss. He was good on the first and just off on the second.
Isaiah Grayson Tracked down the rebound and he went to the rack and scored. Warren County led 63-60. With 2:13 to play, Calbert picked up his fifth foul. Siegel hit 1-of-2 from the line and pulled within two, 63-61.
Just seconds later, Golden was called for his fifth and would remain seated with 1:53 to play. Siegel missed on both attempts and the score remained 63-61.
Holden Baker fed the ball back to Grayson and he was fouled and earned a trip back to the free-throw line. Grayson knocked down both shots and the Pioneers led 65-61.
The Stars offense turned the ball over and Warren County gave it right back. Siegel was fouled at the rim and shot two free throws. After the made foul shots, Siegel trailed 65-63 with 1:13 to play.
Warren County pushed the ball down the floor to a wide open Gaines in the post. The Star defense converge, the shot was up, Gaines was fouled and the shot dropped, Warren County led 67-63.
Gaines’ foul shot was off and Siegel raced back the other way and on the way to the rim Warren County was called for the foul. The shot dropped and the Stars were within two, 67-65.
After a Pioneer turnover Siegel attacked the basket again and Gaines was whistled for the foul and the shot dropped. The score was tied at 67 and after a Stars free throw, Siegel led by one, 68-67.
With 19.8 seconds, Warren County inbounded near midcourt. The ball went inside to Gaines and his shot was off. Joelah Solomon rebounded the shot and he was fouled on the putback. The first shot was up and no good. The Stars called for timeout and attempted to ice Solomon. He stepped back to the line after the timeout and buried his second attempt and the score was tied again at 68 with :06 to play.
Siegel ran the floor and launched one last shot that was no good and the score remained locked at 68.
In the second OT, Grayson fouled out with 3:06 to play and the Pioneers were down three players. Siegel missed both attempts and the score remained tied. Warren County turned the ball over and the Stars were fouled. Siegel shot 1-of-2 and led by one, 69-68.
The Pioneers fed the ball to Holden Baker and he went head on against the solid Star defense and was fouled. Baker knocked down the first and tied the game at 69. He missed the second and Gaines was there for the rebound. Gaines’ putback dropped and Warren County led by two, 71-69.
Siegel immediately went back to work and Normand was fouled. He connected on both attempts and tied the game again at 71.
The Pioneers shot was off and the Stars ran the length of the floor and scored and Siegel led by two at 73-71. The two team’s swapped turnovers and baskets and Warren County trailed 75-73 with 1:16 to play. WCHS coach Chris Sullens called his final timeout.
Siegel used the clock and Warren County was forced to foul with :25 to play. The Stars hit 1-of-2 and Siegel extended its lead to three at 76-73.
Lorenzo Wilson drove the lane and hit with 5.9 to play and Warren County trailed 76-75. The Pioneers were forced to foul and Normand again for Siegel buried both shots.
Warren County was down three at 78-75 and the Pioneers were out of timeouts.
The ball was inbounded to Wilson and he heaved a final shot that fell just short. After two overtimes the Siegel Stars defeated the Warren County Pioneers by a final score of 78-75.
Coach Sullens said, “We fear no team and we will play anyone, anywhere, at anytime. Our guys have learned in the last 12 months to compete. We were disappointed in a tough loss but we realized how successful we can be by the end of the season and I am glad to be a part of this.”
Warren County will play on the road this Friday night versus White County. The Pioneers will be at home Dec. 15 against Wilson Central. Both games are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
STAR SCORING – Brian Normand 25, Braxton Eddings 16, Omar Lyons 14, Quinton Byrd 11, Rob LaLance 5, Greedy Howse 3, Marcus Hardy 2
PIONEER SCORING – Trevor Gaines 23, Isaiah Grayson 16, Isaac Golden 11, Krojhn Calbert 9, Holden Baker 6, Lorenzo Wilson 6, Wesley Jennings 3, Joelah Solomon 1