AISA CLASS AA QUARTERS: Macon East comes up short in overtime loss to Patrician
Macon East guard Gunner Justice goes with the pump fake against Patrician’s Tyler Lewis in the Saints’ overtime win on Wednesday at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex. (Graham Dunn)
By GRAHAM DUNN
The Macon East Academy Knights had ‘em right where they wanted ‘em.
The Knights had battled to take the lead over Patrician in the quarterfinals of the AISA Class AA boys tournament, leading by two, 54-52 with 1:34 left in overtime and they had their best shooter at the free throw line.
Unfortunately, Jacob Wilson was unable to make the front end of the 1-and-1, allowing the Saints a shot at tying, or in this case, taking the lead with a 3-pointer… which is exactly what Carson Coody did with 14 seconds left.
The sophomore drilled the long-range shot that proved to be the game winner in Patrician’s 55-54 victory at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex on Wednesday.
The victory sends the Saints into the Class AA semifinals where they will face undefeated Autauga Academy on Friday.
The loss sent the Knights home for the season, which ended with a 16-5 record.
“We had it all,” surmised Macon East coach Reginald Sprouse. “We had the ball… a clutch guy at the foul line and we had the lead. This is something we will have to think about for the next year. It’s going to hurt a while.”
The game had nine lead changes but most of those came in the final quarter when the two teams traded baskets. The difference – Patrician’s buckets were mostly 3-pointers, with three of them in the final two minutes of regulation.
The biggest of the three tied the score to send the game to overtime. Coody was the culprit again, hitting the shot with 21 seconds on the clock.
That set up the Knights with a chance to win in regulation but they were unable to connect on two tries, leaving the teams tied at 52-52.
Patrician went cold in the overtime period, missing nine consecutive field goal attempts, including five on one possession.
But Macon East was unable to take advantage, although the Knights took the lead with 1:34 left on a layup from Wilson.
After Coody’s made 3 gave Patrician the lead, Wilson had another chance to tie or give his team the lead, but once again missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with three seconds left.
But Sprouse wasn’t blaming his point guard for the loss. His team had plenty of opportunities to shake the Saints, even if the pace of the game didn’t suit the Knights.
“We want to go north and south and not slow down,” he said. “We weren’t able to get out on the break enough and that sort of played into their hands. They were able to set up and take those 3s, which was something I have been concerned about with our team all year.
“I knew at some point our defense would bite us and tonight it did.”
The Saints finished with eight treys, all from Coody and Tyler Lewis. Each finished with 15 points.
Tyler Daniels led Macon East with 19 points while Keagan Roney added 10 points.