As former conference opponents, the boys basketball teams from Freedom and East Burke had games with intense atmosphere, from the fast-paced action and the rowdy student sections on both sides. In their first game as non-conference opponents, it was no difference with the game decided in the final minute. The Patriots took the game in East Burke's territory 66-63.
"It's always a tense game when (these two) get together. Tonight was a great atmosphere with a high level of basketball," said Freedom head coach Casey Rogers. "Getting in an atmosphere of close ball games where to make good plays down the stretch, you learn a lot about yourself and put yourself in position to be successful in the future."
The opening quarter showed how intense it could get with the first quarter ending with a 20-18 lead for East Burke. Jesse Huff, with 12 first quarter points, mostly on drained 3-point shots and Justin Lail, at the inside post, recorded 7 opening quarter points. Freedom's first half points were provided by outside shots from Dean O'Neil and Jordan Jacomine and inside shots from Tyler Hensley. Lail continued to lead the Cavalier offensive charge, in the second quarter, with East Burke holding to a 37-32 lead at the half.
In the second half, the Patriots started an offensive charge for a comeback. O'Neil and Ray Beam started the scoring with layups, to cut East Burke's lead to one. After an offensive foul on Freedom, Justin Lail extended the lead, right back to 3, with a layup of his own. Torin Tate continued to keep East Burke's lead at one point difference, with two 3-pointers. East Burke held a slim, 1-point lead, 46-45, after three quarters.
Tate opening fourth quarter scoring gave Freedom the lead, 47-46, with a layup. The Patriot lead later got extended to 50-46, with a three-pointer by Bryant Clay. With free-throws on both sides, Freedom was ahead 54-48 until freshman Clay Byrd got a key 3-point shot to cut the lead to a three point difference, 54-51. More free-throws and layups on both sides kept Freedom in the lead with a 65-57 lead.
With the game going into the final stretch and Freedom looking to clinch the win, East Burke fired back to keep the Patriots on their heels. Huff and Lail hit clutch 3-point shots and all of a sudden Freedom was only leading by 2, 65-63. A free-throw, however, by O'Neil decided the fate, with the Cavaliers not able to find another shot to possibly tie the game.
"I thought we played really hard. I am proud of our effort," said East Burke head coach Jon Hancock. "We got to get smarter at times but we are inexperienced and we will get better as I am encouraged by our efforts."
In this high-octane, non-conference county-rivalry contest, O'Neil, with 20 points, and Jacotine, with 15 points, led in Patriot scoring. Lail, with 32 points, and Huff, with 14 points, led in Cavalier scoring.
These two teams head on the road Tuesday with East Burke (1-2) going to South Caldwell High and Freedom (3-1) going to McDowell High.
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Freedom boys win game in final minute
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sports@morganton.com
Published: December 06, 2009
Published: December 06, 2009
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