OT Bites Yellowjackets

Mountain View senior boys basketball team forced Cave City to overtime Jan. 12, but fell short 44-38 after the additional four minutes of action.

The Yellowjackets led early after two three-pointers from Beck Morrow, a fastbreak basket from Bryce Baird and a shot from Elijah Carlton. The Cave Men scored a basket early, then added a three-pointer and a drive inside to keep it close at 10-7 after one quarter of play.

Mountain View’s lead remained at three at halftime, 19-16, after six points from Baird and a three-pointer from Riley McCarroll. Both teams exhibited aggressive defense.

The Yellowjackets took possession to start the third and Baird kicked the ball out to Kaedn Henderson for a trey. The visitors also found the range, however, and scored three consecutive three-pointers. Mountain View scored off a drive by Brayden Scribner and a rebound tip-in by Henderson while Cave City scored two pairs from the freethrow line and hit another field goal to lead 31-26 going into the final frame.

The visitors scored on the first possession and that was countered by a Scribner jumper. Carlton hit two sets of freethrows to get Mountain View within one point, then both teams committed turnovers before Riley McCarroll gained control of a loose ball and was fouled. He hit both ends of a one-and-one freethrow opportunity to give his team a 34-33 lead with less than two minutes remaining.

Cave City hit another from long-range to lead by two, and Mountain View committed a turnover with 53 seconds remaining. WIth four fouls to give before putting Cave City into the bonus, they quickly ticked them off after repeated inbounds plays. Finally, an opponent went to the line with 27 seconds on the clock and missed the front end of the one-and-one. Mountain View rebounded and Scriber drove the left side for a basket with eight seconds remaining. Cave City inbounded the ball following a time-out but could get only an off-balance shot that missed and left the score tied at 36.

The visitors controlled the tip and started the overtime period with a basket inside the lane. Mountain View missed a three-point attempt, and Cave City connected on one to lead 41-36. Baird scored inside with 2:11 left but that would be the final score for the home team.

Baird finished with 10 points, while Carlton, Morrow and Scribner each tallied 6. Henderson and McCarroll each chipped in 5 points.

The senior girls rolled over Cave City 51-23. Aubrey Isbell led the effort with 16 points, while Josie Storey and Rylee Shipman each tossed in 8, and Emry Johnson and Chaelann Vickers each tallied 6.

All four teams saw action. The junior girls were defeated 33-23 with Ellie Akins scoring 9 points, and the junior boys fell short 38-33 with Ryder Scribner tossing in 12 points.