Broncos fall short in four-point heartbreaker

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Casey Hertwig and the Boyd Broncos battled toe-to-toe in Thursday’s Senior Night game against St. Andrews, but fell short in their final home contest, losing 70-66. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

Thursday night at Boyd, seniors Clint Patterson, Casey Hertwig and Eric Phillips did everything they could do to insure a Bronco victory on Senior Night. But St. Andrews outscored the Broncos 24-18 in the third period to spoil the celebration with a narrow 70-66 victory.

The first period was an offensive shoot-out, with both teams lighting it up from long range. Patterson sank a 3-pointer to open the game, but St. Andrews answered with back-to-back 3’s from Mike Forster and Ryan Barry.

Dustin Curtis found the bottom of the net from behind the arc and at the three-minute mark the game was tied at 10-10. Kav Spivey put the Mountain Lions on top with a 3-pointer and Foster added a 3 with 40 ticks left in the quarter. Down 18-14, Hertwig rolled in a basket with four seconds left to pull Boyd within two at 18-16 as the quarter ended.

Pressure defense by Boyd took its toll in the second period, creating turnovers and poor shot decisions by St. Andrews. Hertwig hit a 3 at the five-minute mark and Matthew Hancock gave the Broncos a 26-22 lead when he nailed a 3-pointer with 2:56 left in the half. St. Andrews tied the game at 29-29 with one-minute left on the clock but with three seconds left in the period Patterson hit his second 3-pointer of the game to give Boyd a 32-29 lead at the break.

Both teams’ offenses continued to stay hot in the third period. After St. Andrews pulled within one, Patterson hit another 3 to give Boyd a 35-31 lead. The Mountain Lions tied it at 35-all and at the four-minute mark Patterson nailed a 3 to give the Broncos back the lead at 42-40. St. Andrews then hit back-to-back 3’s as the Mountain Lions closed out the quarter leading 53-50.

St. Andrews outscored Boyd 17-16 in the final period. Boyd protected the ball and worked inside the paint to Curtis. Hertwig pulled Boyd within two at 60-58 with under two minutes left to play. St. Andrews made it a four point game when Patterson hit for 3 and pulled Boyd back within one again. The Mountain Lions used the clock as Boyd sent them to the foul line. Clutch free-throws down the stretch secured the win for St. Andrews but Patterson nailed his final three at the buzzer in a losing effort.

For the Broncos, who ended their season with a 1-22 record, Patterson led with 23 points, including five 3’s. Hertwig had 19 points on the night, Hancock hit for eight, Curtis had seven, Childers had five, Eric Phillips and James Dunlap added two points each.

For St. Andrews, Ryan Barry led with 20 points followed by Mike Forster with 18, Jett Fisher had 17 and Spivey hit for seven points.