Braylon Green of Fairbanks, right, draws a foul while driving to the basket during a game against Cedarville on Friday. Green led the team with 23 points during its 60-57 overtime loss. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Every possession of the ball counts.
The Fairbanks boys basketball team learned that in the fleeting seconds of the third quarter of Friday’s game against Cedarville.
Trent Koening of the Indians banked a three-point shot off the glass from half court that would come back to haunt the Panthers as they lost in overtime, 60-57.
The long conversion was nothing new for the Ohio Heritage Conference’s second- best three point shooter who went into the contest with 26 trifectas.
In fact, the Panthers had their hands full during their Winter Homecoming game. Cedarville has the two top scorers in the league, but the Panthers where able to hold their own, thanks the 23 points from Braylon Green and 20 points from Wyatt Miller.
Head coach Justin George said that is the type of leadership they need in order to have a chance against the Indians.
“That is what we needed,” he said. “Braylon played probably his most complete game. Wyatt hitting four three’s, that is high for him.”
The duo of Miller and Green scored all of the Panthers’ points in the opening eight minutes.
Green notched Fairbanks’ opening points off a three ball, while Miller added two of four total treys to help the Panthers stay only a step behind the Indians at 14-13.
George said it was good to see his team come out strong in the first quarter.
“We played a good first quarter, which has been a weakness for us,” he said.
But the Panthers’ problems came in the second quarter when they struggled to find any penetration.
Fairbanks let its shooters loose, but they struggled to convert from beyond the arc, going 0-4.
The Indians found their groove in transition to stretch their lead to 28-17 by the half.
The Panthers were able to slow Cedarville’s offense in the opening minutes of the third quarter by switching to a 2-3 zone defense that closed down some lanes and pressured the Indians’ shooters.
The tough Panther defense allowed Fairbanks to open up its scoring in transition as Sean Galsterer added four points.
Green found the bottom of the net three times to reel the Indians to within four.
The tight game was short-lived as Koening came into the contest and laced three treys.
One of them being a buzzer-beater from half-court to jump Cedarville’s lead to 43-33 going into the final stanza.
George said going into the final quarter he wanted his Panthers to drive hard to the basket.
“We told them we can’t quit or 10 is going to balloon to 20,” George said. “We just had to be aggressive.”
The aggression paid off for the Panthers as they got to line nine times and converted seven of their attempts.
While Green was making waves down low for the Panthers, Miller was adding points from the perimeter.
Miller picked up his third three-pointer with 1:40 left and tied up the contest at 50-50 with his fourth with just over a minute left in the game.
Green drew a foul that put him at the line shooting two. He made both to give the Panthers the 52-50 lead with 37 seconds remaining.
Caderville answered with three ticks on the clock to push the game into OT.
“It is a dogfight in the fourth quarter to get it to overtime,” George said. “Then we just had a couple of bad possessions in overtime where we could have been a little more selective.
“But overall we fought hard and they are a very good team.”
Trey Good opened overtime with a three-point goal to take the lead, but the Indians were able to hold on down the stretch.
They went four-for-six from the free throw line to take the victory.
George said now Fairbanks will return its attention winning a league title.
“We still have a chance to be league champs,” he said. “We’ve just got to win out the season and that is what our mindset is going forward.”
The Panthers are now 8-8 and will return to action Tuesday when they travel to Triad.
Cedarville
Cross 5-11-22, Koning 7-0-18, Ramsey 3-0-7, Herron 2-0-5, Baldwin 2-0-4, McKinion 2-0-4. Totals 21-11-60.
Three-point goals: Koning 4, Crossiak 1, Ramsey 1, Herron 1.
Fairbanks
Green 8-6-23, Miller 8-0-20, Galsterer 2-1-5, Good 1-2-5, Luke 1-0-2, Winkle 1-0-2. Totals 21-9-57.
Three-point goals: Miller 4, Green 1, Good 1
Trey Good of Fairbanks leaps for a jump shot with a Cedarville defender in his face. Good picked up five points in the Panthers’ 60-57 overtime loss. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Sean Galsterer of FHS attempts a shot against Cedarville. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)