Published: Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 / Updated: Thursday, Feb. 04, 2010 04:36 PM
Clover boys beat York in OT
CLOVER --
Playing before a frenzied crowd in the Clover High School gym, longtime basketball rivals Clover and York split double-header action last Friday.
The boys game extended to overtime, with the Blue Eagles surviving a 75-70 thriller.
The home-standing Blue Eagles responded to the challenge in OT, converting 8 of 10 pressure-packed free throws to seal the verdict.
Though the overtime was dramatic, Cody Bauer’s 3-pointer from long-range sending the game into OT drew the loudest cheer from the Blue Eagle faithful.
“It felt great,” Bauer said of the dramatic shot and crowd noise. “The place was shaking.”
Head coach Dudley Lybrand provided words of encouragement to his long-range shooter.
“I told him to shoot the ball when he was open and to shoot with confidence,” the CHS coach said.
Bauer has the mindset it takes to be a difference-maker from three-point range.
“If I miss a good many shots, it’s usually something I’m doing wrong fundamentally” he said. “I fix it and keep shooting the three.”
York’s Michael Dover scored from close-range, pushing the Cougars to a 65-62 lead before Bauer’s dramatic shot.
Tony Thomasson got the Cougars going in overtime, nailing a 3-pointer for a 68-65 lead.
But the Blue Eagles quickly recovered, with Darius Harris scoring on a putback and Xavier Wiley converting two free throws for a lead that stood the rest of the game.
Lybrand spoke of the all-out team effort in his comments after the game.
“York made a run at the end of the first half and into the third quarter,” he noted. “Our kids responded when they had to and made free throws with the game on the line.”
Lybrand lauded the efforts of Harris, Wiley and Devin Adams.
“Darius had 13 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots,” he said. “Devin has made 8 of 9 free throws in crucial situations the last thee games.
“Xavier did a good job at the free throw line tonight.”
York coach Kendall McCarter made note of the effort the Cougars gave in the rivalry game.
“It was everything a York-Clover game should be,” he told reporters. “Overtime always favors the home team.”
McCarter said the Blue Eagles did a good job of changing the tempo.
“We wanted to run and press the whole game,” he said. “Clover did a good job of making it a half-court game.”
Thomasson, who suffered a leg cramp late in the game, was able to return and handle the ball with the game on the line.
“I want to handle the ball and find an open teammate in pressure situations,” he said.
Jerry Holmes paced York with 19 points. Brandon Hagins scored 18.
Bauer scored 19, Aaron Miller 17 and Harris 13 for Clover.
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