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BEDFORD, N.Y. The Fox Lane and Byram Hills boys basketball teams had been in almost this exact situation earlier this season.
A one-possession game as the fourth quarter wound to a close. And then, once again, Byram Hills guards put the game away.
The Foxes fell to the Bobcats, 52-48, in a nailbiter at Fox Lane on Friday night. Byram Hills (7-2) coach Ted Repa said it was not the prettiest game, but hell take a win any way he can get it.
We didnt play that well, especially offensively, Repa said. But sometimes you have to grind out wins, especially on a Friday night at a tough opponent.
The much-anticipated rematch between the two teams certainly lived up to the hype, particularly in the closing minute. The Bobcats Andrew Maloney hit both ends of a 1-and-1 to give Byram Hills a 49-46 lead. Fox Lanes Dylan Peretz put back a missed three-point attempt with 15 seconds left to pull the Foxes within one at 49-48.
Ryan Golden was fouled and made the front end of a 1-and-1 but then missed the second free throw. Fox Lane called timeout with nine seconds left down by two.
The Bobcats had a foul to give and did so with five seconds left on the clock. Will Trawick, the Foxes go-to senior, got the ball off the inbound but Maloney drew an offensive foul as Trawick drove to the hoop. Violante said after the game the plan was for Trawick to either shoot the ball or kick it outside for a three-pointer.
The Foxes then fouled Jeff Lynch, who played in his first game after an injury, with one second left. Lynch made two free throws to ice the game.
It was a great game, it could have been anybodys game, Fox Lane coach Chris Violante said. At the end, we missed some layups. They made some shots I think (if) we make some of those shots we win the game. But we missed them. (Its) what it is.
Both offenses were cold in the fourth quarter, but Byram Hills made just enough baskets to escape with the win. Lynch finished with 20 points to lead all scorers while Golden added 10 points.
Though Maloney only finished with six points, his contribution on the final Fox Lane possession, when he took the charge from the larger Trawick, essentially sealed the win for this team.
Its worth the pain. Its worth the pain, Maloney said. This is the best feeling in the world. Were in a great position to win the league now and its definitely worth the pain.
Trawick finished with 10 points for the Foxes, while Peretz and Kevin Muller each had 11.
There was scarcely a seat to be found in the gym, as the Fox Lane fans, clad in black, and the Byram Hills fans, in white shirts that read This is Byram, sat on opposite bleachers and traded chants.
The crowd was like part of the family tonight, Repa said. I was very happy.
Lynch could not have picked a more exciting game in which to return, and he knew it.
I actually was nervous in the beginning of the game, Lynch said. It feels amazing to win in their gym. I love this gym. They have great fans and its fun to win in front of their fans.
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