By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
SPRINGVILLE – Down three points and with possession of the ball, Leeds’ Tanner Chambers had a clear shot at a last-second three-pointer to tie Springville, a shot that could have capped a remarkable comeback for the Green Wave.
The shot was up. The aim was true. But the trajectory was barely short, and Springville held on to win 46-43.
“Our defense really predicates everything we did,” Tigers coach Jeremy Monceaux said. “I’m a little disappointed because we had three different times where we got up by double digits and then each time we allowed them to make some plays to get back in the game.”
Chambers led all scorers with 14 points.
The real story of the game was told at the charity stripe. Leeds was 5-for-13 from the free-throw line, leaving eight points – points that could have made the difference – unaccounted for.
In the first quarter, Moore scored the first two buckets of the game for the Tigers, while the Green Wave’s Jamal Jordan responded with a pair of baskets of his own to tie things up at 4, and then hit a floater from the left side of the court to take an early 6-4 lead.
Moore responded with a backdoor cut for a layup, and the game was tied.
As usual, Springville’s tenacious defense proved to be a key difference in the game. On Leeds’ next possession, senior forward Tyler Harrison blocked a shot to force a turnover, and Gavin Gooch made a layup at the other end of the court.
Chambers pulled Leeds back into the game with a three-pointer in the final minute of the first quarter to make it 10-9 Springville, but Harrison hit one of two foul shots to make it 11-9 at the end of 1.
“If you look at any of the scores in Springville’s games and the way they play defense and the way Jeremy’s got them playing, they’re holding teams to the 40s consistently,” Leeds coach Jeremiah Millington said. “They’ve held a bunch of teams to well below their average.”
The Tigers maintained their lead – and extended it – in the second half as Collin Lockhart scored three times in rapid succession and then went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line to create a 23-16 halftime cushion for Springville.
After the break, Leeds’ Josh Ruff answered the call for the Green Wave. Down by 11 and in danger of being blown out, Ruff buried a pair of three points to help Leeds crawl back into the game, but Springville’s defense kept up its furious pace. The Tigers went into the final frame up 36-26.
The fourth quarter was a different game entirely as Leeds seized momentum behind Chambers and Jordan, who buried a three in the final minute to pull the Green Wave within one point, 44-43. The Green Wave forced a turnover in the waning seconds of the game, but fouled senior small forward Garrett Howard, who hit both free throws to lead 46-43.
At the other end of the floor, Chambers missed the final shot of the game.
Gooch and Moore each had 13 points for the Tigers, while Lockhart had 8. For Leeds, Jordan scored 13 while Ruff had 8.