ALEXANDRIA Easterns boys basketball team is the defending Sectional 39 champion. Alexandria looks like the favorite to take the hardware this year. <\/p>\n
The Comets showed Tuesday they will be ready to battle for a sectional repeat when the tournament opens Feb. 28. <\/p>\n
Alex outlasted Eastern 67-61 in two overtimes on the Tigers floor. <\/p>\n
Eastern coach Mike Springer liked what he saw from his squad. <\/p>\n
Like I told the kids, this is the team the fight, the energy, the determination that I really believe we have, Springer said. Going on the road, playing on [Alexs] senior night, it was a tough game, but our kids battled and they worked together. Im just super proud of each and every one of them. <\/p>\n
Down 46-39 late in regulation, the Comets closed on a 9-2 run to force overtime. Sam Querry ignited the comeback with a 3-pointer at 2:21. After Alexs Miller Abernathy missed a pair of free throws at 1:24, Zach Robinson drilled a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game at 1:08. <\/p>\n
Abernathy put the Tigers up three with a layup at :30, but the Tigers fouled Robinson on a 3-point attempt at :24. The Comet senior made all three free throws for a 48-all tie. The Tigers missed a shot in the lane in the closing seconds. <\/p>\n
In the first overtime, Alex jumped to a 53-50 lead, but Eastern followed with seven straight points. Querry started the run with two free throws and then Robinson had a terrific stretch he took a steal, hit a 3-pointer and then drew a charge. Draeden Graber scored on a breakout for a 57-53 lead at 1:07. <\/p>\n
The Comets (7-14) failed to hold the lead. Alexs Matthew Hensley hit two free throws at :58. After Eastern came up empty on a three-shot possession, Alexs Avery Paddock tied it with two free throws at :41. Following an Eastern turnover, Alex missed a shot in the closing seconds. <\/p>\n
The Tigers (12-8) dominated the second overtime. Dane Hueston, a 6-foot-6 forward, drilled a pair of 3-pointers to make it 63-57. The Tigers followed with 3 of 4 free throws for a 66-57 lead at 1:21 and they went on for the six-point win. <\/p>\n
Alexs nine-point lead in the second OT was the biggest lead by either team in the game. <\/p>\n
The first half was tight. Eastern led 8-6 after the first quarter. Alexs Blake Morehead beat the halftime buzzer with a runner, giving the Tigers their first lead, 20-19. <\/p>\n
Alex led 32-29 after the third quarter. Eastern committed 10 turnovers in the quarter but was able to stay within one possession. <\/p>\n
Alex built a pair of seven-point leads in the fourth quarter, 44-37 at 3:42 and 46-39 at 2:52, before the Comets stormed back. <\/p>\n
Robinson led Eastern with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Querry had 17 points and six rebounds. Graber had 16 points, four boards and three assists. The Comets had a 34-26 rebounding advantage. <\/p>\n
We had really good effort, Springer said. Defensively, I felt we felt we did a really good job on the glass. We moved the ball well, got good shots on the offensive end. <\/p>\n
It was a tough game. Im just proud of the way our kids battled. We were right there [Tuesday], we just came up short. Well go back [today] and see if we can get better. <\/p>\n
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BOYS BB: Comets fall short in 2 OTs - Kokomo Tribune<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ALEXANDRIA Easterns boys basketball team is the defending Sectional 39 champion. Continue reading