Boys Basketball: Panthers Nip Redstreaks 53-52
Article presented by Litter Quality Propane …
Southeastern’s Brevin Strausbaugh sank a pair of free throws with 9.5 seconds remaining to give the Panthers the edge they needed to get past Piketon Friday in a 53-52 win over the Redstreaks.
The win snapped a five-game Piketon winning streak.
Strausbaugh’s effort at the line wasn’t missed by Panthers Head Coach Bryan Alley on the Litter Media RADIO post game show. “Brevin steps up and hit two huge free throws to put us up by four” which was all Southeastern needed. Following the free throws, Piketon’s Jayce Johnson drilled a three-pointer with 3-seconds left, but the Redstreaks’ bank of time outs was depleted and were unable to stop the clock.
Before the game, Alley was asked what his team needed to do to come out on top. His tongue in cheek response was “Score one more point than they do.” And the Panthers did just that.
It was a game of runs as Southeastern posted a 13-5 lead through the first period, all while the Redstreaks made several scoreless trips down the floor while committing seven turnovers. Gage Cheadle hit the opening bucket of the second period to lift Southeastern to a 10-point lead, but what followed was a 14-0 tear by Piketon. Treven Shanks started the run with a three-point play, then center Bo Henry dropped in a three from the top of the key. After Jace Ritchie cut the lead to 15-13, Henry tied the game and was fouled on the shot. His three-point play lifted the Streaks to their first lead since the start of the game. Henry added another shot from 23-feet to give Piketon its biggest lead at 19-15. The Panthers closed out the half on a 9-1 run for a 24-20 lead at the break.
The Panthers ran ahead in the third to build a 41-27 margin and it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Piketon faithful. But the Redstreaks chipped away and clawed back into the game with 1:23 remaining at 50-46.
“They could’ve folded at least twice” said Alley “and then they came roarin’ back. Those are a bunch of great young men on that team and a great coach, and you know it’s gonna be a battle.”
Southeastern has just 9-players, six of which are getting their first taste of varsity time, which can be uncomfortable for a coach watching them defend a 14-point lead. “I know it’s not over” said Alley. “Some of the passing… some of the decision making around the basket. I wanted good shots. I didn’t necessarily want to just keep grinding it, but we’ll take layups. But we missed some of those when we had opportunities to make it easier.”
One-point outcomes can drive a coach batty when considering the little things that might have turned the tide. For Southeastern, it was Strausbaugh’s two free throws in a clutch situation. The Panthers were just 6-of-11 from the line while Piketon missed some opportunities, too making only 7-of-15.
Unofficial scoring had Strausbaugh leading Southeastern with 14-points while the Redstreaks were paced by Henry’s 22 and 18 by Shanks.
Piketon won’t have to wait long to exact its revenge. The two clubs are scheduled to play again Friday, January 9th at Southeastern’s Larry Jordan Gymnasium.
Southeastern (3-6/2-4 SVC) will travel to North Adams (5-2) Saturday night. Piketon (6-5/3-3 SVC) will host Wellston (6-1) Saturday night.
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