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BASKETBALL: Falcons hang on to beat Cobden

Posted January 09, 2012 10:00 pm

Doug Daniels

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Kyle Whittington's jumper from the corner with 20 seconds to go proved to be the game-winner for Elverado as the Falcons knocked off Cobden 43-42 on Saturday night in Elkville.

The Falcons trailed by six late in the third quarter, but battled back to tie it early in the fourth before taking their only lead of the period on Whittington's shot that was made possible by a forced turnover at the other end by Casey Hicks.

"I told them at halftime I think it's going to come down to basically who wants it and who is mentally ready to take it," said EHS head basketball coach Mark Riley. "I think both of these teams are in similar situations with their seasons where the wins do not come easy. We made the shots when they counted, and we played the defense when it counted, I'm happy for the kids."

The Falcons were up 15-8 after the first quarter, but the Appleknockers rallied in the second with a trio of three-pointers, two from Tyler Lewey, who led Cobden with 16 points in the game. EHS maintained a slim 24-23 lead at the break, but entered the locker room having surrendered the final eight points of the half.

A 6-0 run put Cobden out in front 31-25 with 3:33 to go in the third, but the Falcons weren't going to let the game slip away.

Hicks' three-point play with 5:09 to go in the ball game tied things up at 35-35, but with 30.8 seconds to play Cobden had the ball up 42-41 inbounding near mid-court. Hicks swatted the inbounds pass away and the Falcons started a fast break the other way, ending with Whittington spotting up for a deep two in the corner near his team's bench.

The Appleknockers called for time, but turned it back over to the Falcons with 3.9 seconds to play and fouled Hicks. The senior missed the front end of the one-and-one, then fouled the rebounder for Cobden with 1.4 on the clock.

"I told them we have fouls to give, I wanted to make it difficult for (Cobden) to get that rebound if anything and if we had to foul, so be it," Riley said.

"I just told them keep your heads about you, don't make any stupid fouls, especially don't make any stupid fouls that are going to put them in a shooting situation and give them a chance to win the game."

Whittington intercepted a final Cobden pass attempt and Elverado held on for the second win of their boys basketball season.

Hicks (12 points) and Dalton Porter (11) finished in double figures for EHS, Whittington (7), Bryce Mathis (4), Kody Boyd (4), Wade Bowlin (3) and Andrew Jeschke (2) also scored.

The Falcons (2-13) are at the Chester mid-winter tournament starting on Monday.

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