Overtime Heartbreak for Highlanders

In a nip and tuck battle all evening long, the Highlanders boys' team finally fell in overtime 72 to 71 to the visiting Greenbrier West Cavaliers on Tuesday before a large crowd.

West held a 14 to 12 lead at the end of the first quarter and the teams went into halftime tied at 26. West then opened up a five point lead at 44 to 39 at the end of three quarters. 

The Highlanders then mounted a comeback, but trailed by 4 with less than a minute remaining. With 47 seconds remaining, senior Dalton Gray banked in a seven foot jumper. At 38 seconds remaining, sophomore Dorian Groggs stole the ball in the backcourt and quickly tipped the ball to Gray for an easy layup and the game was tied at 63 with 32 seconds remaining in regulation. After a West charging call, Webster had 17 seconds left to make a game winning shot. At 6 seconds, Gray's 10 foot jumper fell short and the Cavaliers launched a half court shot that missed as the buzzer sounded, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, West quickly built up a four point lead, but the Highlanders came racing back to take a 71 to 69 lead. A Cavalier player grabbed an offensive rebound with 16 seconds remaining in overtime and made a layup and was fouled in the process. With the game tied at 71, the West player sank the free throw for the West lead, setting up once again a final chance for the Highlanders to win.  Gray's 12 foot jumper at 3 seconds remaining bounced off the rim and West grabbed the rebound to preserve the 72 to 71 win for the Cavaliers.

The Highlanders' efforts in the second half and overtime were not helped by the referees who called 16 fouls on Webster to only 8 on West (did Webster commit 16 fouls? Yes, but West committed a lot more than 8). Despite the obvious disparity in foul calls, Webster had their chances in regulation and overtime to win the game but fell short both times.

Once again, senior Billy Wilson proved why he has been inserted into the starting lineup by both his offensive and defensive play during this game. If stats were kept for players who take charges from the other team, Wilson would walk away with the title as he proves again and again his willingness to lay his body on the line for his team. In addition, most of the night he was defending one of West's six foot seven inch players, and he held his own. Off the bench tonight, senior Bradin Miller contributed several points and key defensive plays. Wilson and Miller's play was complemented by the regular, consistent scoring and defensive cast of Gray, Groggs, Hayden Williams, and Mathias Palmer.

Gray led all scorers with 27 points. Miller had 13 points, and Groggs added 11.

This game was surely a heartbreak to lose with so many chances to win. With the loss, the Highlanders' season record drops to 12 wins, 8 losses on the season, with two regular season games remaining (on February 16 at home against Williamstown and on February 22 at Richwood). The loss also snapped Webster's four game win streak. The JV team did not play as a girls' CWVAC 7th/8th grade playoff game was played just prior, which Webster won handily.

The video included at the link below shows the final minutes of the regulation and overtime periods:
Game Video