Eagles take over atop TIC standings
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 8, 2005
LASKER – Ask anyone that attended Northeast Acaemy’s
rematch with Terra Ceia Christian School (TCCS) and they may have a different memory.
Drew Pinnix tiptoeing along the baseline to keep a Northeast rebound inbounds.
Buddy Duke’s behind-the-back pass.
Lance Jenkins blocking a Terra Ceia shot.
Barry Barrett and Rich Edwards coming up with steals.
Senior Will McLawhorn approaching his coach to give up his opportunity to start on Senior Night because he didn’t think it was in the best interest of the team.
There are many memories from Friday’s game, but one memory everyone that attended will share is the final score.
At the buzzer, the Eagles took the victory in overtime, handing the Knights a 57-54 loss to avenge their only conference loss of the season.
&uot;Both teams had a chance to win in regulation and in overtime and I feel fortunate that we were able to beat such a good team,&uot; Northeast head coach John Brown said. &uot;It was truly a team victory.&uot;
TCCS scored first in overtime as Simpson hit a basket to put the Knights ahead 52-50.
Edwards drained another three to forge the Eagles ahead 53-52.
A TCCS basket put the Knights back on top, 54-53, but Senior Tyler Davis sank two free throws to put Northeast back on top 55-54 with 90 seconds on the clock.
Edwards hit two foul shots to put the icing on the cake, as Northeast avenged their earlier loss at the hands of the Knights, winning 57-54.
In the early going, the Knights struck first as Phillip Vanderweitt hit a deuce to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.
The Eagles answered quick as Edwards put Brian McLean’s pass in the basket to tie the score at two.
A bucket from Broderick Simpson put TCCS back out front, but McLean put back an offensive rebound to even the score.
Vanderweitt hit a trey, but again the Eagles answered as Edwards drilled a three-pointer to tie the score again.
Following a Bradley Van Staaldinen basket, Duke hit nothing but net as his trey gave the Eagles their first lead of the game at 10-9.
The teams traded baskets, with Duke answering a TC bucket and Edwards draining another trey.
With five seconds left in the first quarter, McLean hit two foul shots to give Northeast a 19-18 lead going into the second.
The Eagles kept their momentum in the second as Duke drilled a three-pointer and McLean hit a bucket to pull extend the Eagles lead to 24-18.
A basket from Hendrik Van Dorp and two buckets by Van Essendelf tied the score at 24-all.
Duke pulled the Eagles back ahead, hitting a deuce and draining a shot from behind the arc to give Northeast a 29-24 advantage.
Baskets from Van Essendelf and Van Staaldinen cut the Northeast lead to one (29-28) at the end of the first half.
Van Staaldinen hit a basket giving the Knights a 30-29 lead, but it didn’t last.
Edwards hit a trey, Duke added a bucket and McLean hit two shots to pull the Eagles ahead, 38-30.
Van Essendelf hit a basket to end the Eagles run, but Edwards took the ball coast-to-coast for the deuce and added another field goal to keep the Eagles ahead 42-32.
Michael Van Staaldinen hit a Terra Ceia bucket to cut the lead to eight, but Jenkins came up with a steal and took it to the hoop to put Northeast back up by ten.
TCCS hit two baskets over the final two minutes, but Jenkins had the final bucket of the third as Northeast took a 46-38 lead in the final quarter.
The Knights outscored Northeast 10-3 to take a 49-48 lead with just over a minute remaining in regulation.
Edwards hit a basket to give the Eagles the 50-49 lead with 30 seconds on the clock.
Van Essendelf stepped to the free throw line with 13 seconds remaining and hit the second of two foul shots to tie the score at 50 and send the game into overtime.
&uot;I’m proud of the way the team hung in there and made the defensive stops, even though it looked like we were going to fall,&uot; Brown said.
Edwards led Northeast with 26 points, including four three-pointers.
Duke hit three treys, scoring 15 for the Eagles.
With the victory, Northeast improves to 9-1 in conference and 15-2 overall.
They will host Albermarle Tuesday night.
Northeast (57): Rich Edwards – 26, Buddy Duke – 15, Brian McLean – 10, L. Jenkins – 4, T. Davis – 2
Terra Ceia (54): Phillip Vanderweitt – 13, Kyle Van Essendelf – 13, Bradley Van Staaldinen – 12, B. Simpson – 4, M.. Van Staaldinen – 4, H. Van Dorp – 4, D. Joyner – 4