On Saturday, March 7th, the boys were down 31-23 at halftime against Grandview, the number one seed. But in the third quarter, the Vikings put everything they had into the game and started to score like crazy.
With three remaining minutes in the third quarter, Academy and Grandview were neck and neck. A technical foul called on Grandview gave the Vikes a chance to score two more points and go up to 38-37, when Ryan Alexander’17 made both shots. The quarter ended with Academy ahead at 44-41 and Grandview greatly disappointed at its lost lead.
In the fourth quarter, the stands were on edge as the score went back and forth when the boys fell behind after Grandview made a 3 pointer. The score was 45-44.
With 1:21 left in the game, the Vikings stayed ahead at 49-47 and called a timeout. Then 53 seconds were left when Herman Moultrie’18 got fouled and made a shot, giving our team a lead of 50-47.
But Grandview came back and scored two points. 28 seconds were left, and the Vikes got fouled again, allowing Grandview to score another point.
It was 51-49, with the clock counting. Grandview had the ball and scored with five seconds left, pushing the game into overtime.
The crowd was on its feet as the teams battled for the win during the five minutes of overtime. With a minute and a half left, the Vikings were down 59-57. The intensity increased as the clock was ticking. The boys were losing time. There was a minute left when Scott Mackenzie’15 got the ball and sunk a three. The crowd went crazy as Academy took the lead with under sixty seconds left. Another foul let the Vikings score another point, 61-59, but then Grandview came back and scored to tie the game at 61-61.
With thirty seconds left, the Vikes took possession. They lost the ball but fought to win it back. As the clock counted down, Nick Stringer’17 got the ball and dribbled it past Grandview’s players with under five seconds left. He drove to the hoop, shot a reverse layup, and scored! The Vikings defeated Grandview 63-61.
The Vikes take on Marion Pleasant at Worthington Kilbourne on March 10th at 7pm as they advance to District Quarterfinals in the tournament.
Written by Taylor Bates’16
