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Verot Drops Tough One to Florida Air in OT
By: Aaron Seybert
Saturday, December 5, 2009
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FORT MYERS, FL-- Coming into Saturday's contest between the host Bishop Verot Vikings and visiting Florida Air Academy Falcons, most might not have given the home team a chance considering Verot struggled just a week and a half ago against Charlotte, and the Falcons came in being ranked as high as 10th in the state regardless of classification. However, Bishop Verot has been in big games in the past and something can always be said for a team that has guys who are battle tested.
Well, the Vikings return 4 key players from last season's Final Four run, including senior guards Jacquard Hagan and Bobby Thomas. Those returners were eager to prove to their fans, and the state for that matter, that they are not in a rebuilding year after losing three starters to graduation, two of which are on Division 1 rosters right now.
Florida Air was also without possibly the biggest threat to the smaller Verot squad, 6'6 F Will Yeguette, who is being recruited by Big East schools but did not play for unknown reasons. However, the Falcons still had Sam Houston State recruit, 6'0 guard Kuamaine Osborne, and he was more than motivated to pick up the slack.
From the start though, Verot did what they do best and knocked down two early shots from behind the arc, one by junior Nate Howard and the other by Hagan, to jump out to a 6-2 lead. The Falcons though would had an answer though for each of Verot's big shots through the first 6 and a half minutes of the opening period. But then the Vikings made a late run, outscoring FAA 8-0 over the final 1:26 of the first quarter, to take a 24-15 lead heading into the second. Verot hit a total of 5 treys in the period.
In the second, the home team would cool off a bit but was still active defensively on Osborne, however Josh Soto steadied a second quarter charge for the Falcons as they pulled to within four at the half, 31-27. Hagan was top scorer through two for Verot with 10, and Soto led all scorers with 11 thus far. Osborne to this point could only manage 6 points.
When play started again in the third, Osborne flipped the switch, and started using aggressive drives to the hoop to get himself to the foul line. Once he found his stroke again he continued to go to work, and scored 14 of his game high 30 points in the third quarter to help Florida Air pull ahead heading into the fourth, 43-41. Bobby Thomas did his part in the third to keep it close, knocking down two crucial treys, that at the time kept the Vikings ahead.
The fourth quarter played out very similar to that of the 12th round of a heavyweight boxing match. Both teams trading big blows to give their squads momentary momentum swings. Florida Air's Bradley Christian got into the action in the fourth, and hit a very big game-tying three to answer a deep three hit by Thomas just moments before on the previous Viking possession.
Verot freshman Quinten Payne, who had been struggling for most of the game offensively, got into the action as well, scoring a big bucket in the paint in the waning minutes.
At the end of regulation though it would be Florida Air's ball with 9.4 seconds remaining. They set up their play, got the shot they wanted for Osborne at the top of the key for three, but it hit the back of the rim and sent the game into overtime with the score tied 57 apiece.
In the "13th Round" of the bout, Payne got back into the action inside. He posted up against a bigger defender, and found a way to will the ball into the basket while also drawing a foul. He sank the free throw to put Verot up 60-59 with just under 3 minutes left. Two more free throws, this time by Hagan, increased the lead to 62-59 with 2:26 on the clock.
Osborne had another answer though, canning another trey to knot it back up at 62 apiece at the 2:10 mark.
Then with just over a minute remaining, Hagan stole the ball away from Falcon's guard Stephen Burrows and took it straight to the basket for the go ahead layup, 64-62. Remember the name Burrows though because he would have his redemption.
With just under a minute left, FAA went to the free throw line for two shots down 64-62. They proceeded to miss both, but Verot was unable to secure the rebound, and once the Falcons secured it another foul was called sending them back to the line for two shots. FAA would again miss both free throw attempts, but once again the Vikings weren't able to box out and Florida Air grabbed the offensive board. On the rebound, a foul would be called on Howard, his fifth, sending him to the bench with 10 points for the game and calling for Verot coach Matt Herting to turn to one of his untested sophomore guards, Mark Wagner.
Florida Air was able to tie it up at 64 finally on two made free throws.
However, the Vikings would now have their chance at a last shot, holding the ball on the sidelines with 9 seconds remaining and Wagner taking it out. Its notable that if Howard had not fouled out, Wagner would not have been such a pressure packed position with the game on the line.
On the inbound, Wagner proceeded to try and force the ball into Hagan but he was unable to gain control of it and so FAA regained possession with 7.2 seconds still on the clock.
This time they would not foul it up, but it was the unlikeliest of heroes to take the shot for the Falcons. Verot was able to force Osborne out of a position to get off a good shot so he passed it to Burrows, who had not scored all game, but after bobbling the ball on the baseline, he hoisted up a fall away jumper right before the buzzer. All Net. Final score, 66-64.So his only points were the most important points, as Florida Air stormed the court and walked out with the win by the narrowest of margins.
The game proved one big thing though. Bishop Verot will be a team that will struggle at times when the opposition has bigger guys inside, but it also proved they can cause problems of their own with their ability to start five guards and compete just enough on the glass.
Hagan played probably his best overall game that we've ever seen and led the Vikings with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 big steals. Thomas came up huge as well, and continued his hot shooting and solid play scoring 15 points of his own. Howard had the 10 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Payne had only 7 points for the game, but he added 6 rebounds and 4 assists of his own.
For Florida Air, Osborne led all scorers with 30 points. Soto added 15 of his own, and Christian ended with 13.
