Greenwood Christian’s Jordan Taulman tries to save the ball before it goes out of bounds during Friday’s game at Edinburgh.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
Greenwood Christian sophomore Noah Reed was visualizing an empty gym.
“It was just going back to all my practice,” he said. “I’m in the gym by myself with my free throw routine. Even if I missed, I know my teammates were going to make a big play.”
Reed sank four free throws in the final 35 seconds of overtime Friday night to lift the Cougars to a 57-52 victory over host Edinburgh.
Reed’s first two free throws gave the Cougars a 55-52 lead. After two missed shots by Edinburgh, Reed was fouled and sank two free throws to effectively seal it.
‘The boys did a great job hitting free throws when it counted,” said GCA coach Jackson Williams, whose team won its ninth straight game to improve to 15-6. “Between our guys making big plays and being locked in defensively, it really helped us down the stretch.”
Max Booher and Blake Shewmaker each scored 17 points to lead the Cougars.
Both teams were 11 of 19 from the foul line, but GCA came up with the clutch free throws.
“When you miss two free throws in late-game situations, it makes it kind of hard,” Edinburgh coach Keith Witty said. “We didn’t shoot free throws very well and that hurt. We didn’t block out very well and they got two or three chances to score. It’s hard to beat people when you give them three chances to score.”
The Lancers (12-8) led 28-27 at halftime, but trailed 39-36 after three quarters. After the Lancers got back in front, the Cougars tied it at 48-all on a free throw by Parker Satre with 16 seconds left in regulation.
“We had ourselves in a good position and gave up a layup and a foul,” Witty said. “They hit free throws in big moments. Games like this come down to the little things.”
Connor Ramey was high for the Lancers with 17 points and Jarrett Turner added 14.
Edinburgh senior standout Caleb Dewey fouled out late in regulation, finishing with eight points.
“They denied him pretty well,” Witty said. “They held him sometimes and they weren’t calling it. We have to adjust to that when teams do that to us.”
Booher said his team was confident all along.
“I think we all knew we were going to win,” Booher said. “We always hang tough. We practice free throws every day forever. We’re a good free throw shooting team.”
