BOYS BASKETBALL: Cahokia escapes Pinckneyville amid confusion
Brian Taylor sank what many fans and PCHS head coach Bob Waggoner thought was the game-tying three-pointer with about seven seconds to play in Saturday night's game against Cahokia, but the shot was ruled a two as the Panthers backed away from fouling, and the Class 3A Comanches escaped with a 56-55 victory.
The official across the court from the Panthers' bench appeared to signal a three-pointer on Taylor's bucket with his arms extended in the air, and Waggoner immediately told his team not to foul, thinking the game was tied at 56-56. But the official closest to the actual shot ruled that Taylor was inside the arc, and not until time had already expired did Pinckneyville realize the missed opportunity to send the Comanches to the free throw line and stop the clock.
"(One official) brought his arms up, and then they slowly went back in his pockets," Waggoner said after the game. "It was very confusing, because I thought we were going to overtime. We just came up a few seconds short, and that's my fault. I should have made sure (it was a three-pointer)."
The final seconds overshadowed a huge game from PCHS senior Nolan Luke and a big comeback for Pinckneyville in the final seven minutes of action.
Cahokia was on top 45-32 after a triple by Antonio Donald with 7:20 to go in the game. Donald ended up leading the Comanches with 15 points.
Luke took over at that point, doing a lot of his damage driving to the lane and getting to the free throw line, where he finished the game 12-for-15, making 5-of-6 in the fourth quarter. He added a three-pointer with 1:20 go to give him 14 points in the period and bring Pinckneyville to within two at 50-48.
"It was a great comeback," Waggoner said. "Nolan played really well, he's a good ball player and had an excellent ball game. Overall I thought our team responded well, coming back the final seven minutes and did a great job of executing to get back in the game."
About a minute later, Eugene Gully made two free throws for Cahokia to put them up 56-53, setting up Taylor's bucket with time winding down. The Panthers prematurely celebrated after the final horn, thinking they'd tied the game up.
Instead, their eight-game winning streak ended, and PCHS was left looking for bright spots in a heartbreaking loss.
"(Playing a team like Cahokia) makes you a lot better with their athleticism, their quickness, their size," Waggoner said. "It's just a game where you get better."
Luke torched the Comanches for 32 points, Taylor had 12, Tristan Fisher 6, Tyler Rulevish 3 and Adam Banach 2.
The 32-point performance for Luke came 24 hours after he'd lit up Sparta for 23 points in a 67-41 home conference win over the visiting Bulldogs.
Ten Panthers scored in the rout, including Taylor (13 points), Banach (10), Rulevish (5), Fisher (4), Cale Jausel (3), Hayden Carter (3), J.C. Moll (2), Jackson Brand (2) and Caulden Lazenby (2).
Pinckneyville (20-5, 5-1) heads to Du Quoin (8-14, 1-5) this Friday night for another conference game.