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Carter Hodson (14) vs Carter Owens (0) -
Karson Fellers -
Carson Thomas (23) vs Henry Creed (4) -
Luke Melton (22) and Thompson Whitehead (15) -
Xavier Sayler attempts a shot in the paint
Karson Fellers stumbled as he drove to the basket but nonetheless floated the ball up and in.
The senior’s late score lifted the Oklahoma Christian Academy boys’ basketball team past Oklahoma Christian School 50-48 in overtime Tuesday night at the OCA Activities Center.
Fellers said he volunteered when the coaches asked who wanted the final shot.
“I really think we just wore them out through the game,” Fellers said. “We were able to drive, and I was able to get a good look, and we finished.”
OCA (10-3) possessed the ball most of overtime as the Eagles searched for an opportunity to score.
OCS (5-5) led 45-41 in the final half minute of regulation but could not hold on.
Sophomore Carson Thomas hit a 3-pointer to shrink the OCA deficit to 1. OCS junior Luke Melton hit a free throw with 6.7 seconds left, but Fellers drew a foul with 0.7 seconds to play.
Fellers hit both free throws, sending the game to overtime. The Eagles outscored the Saints 4-2 in the extra period.
OCA coach Jeremy Roman said OCS is the best defense the Eagles have faced this year.
“They were exceptional on defense all game,” Roman said. “At the end, we were trying to get a layup, and we couldn’t. We got to 30 seconds and the final timeout. We called a play that’s an isolation for Fellers, and I told him, ‘It’s your ball, you’re a senior,’ and he came through.”
Fellers did not score until the final minute of the first half but finished strong with 19 points. Fellow senior Xavier Sayler scored 12.
Junior Jon McKee led OCS with 12, followed by senior Braden Roberts with 11 and junior Luke Melton with 10.
Roman said these kinds of games prepare a team for the playoffs.
“I’ve always said great teams are the ones that can win in overtime,” Roman said. “You need a couple of good overtime wins in the regular season to prepare for the playoffs… I believe the character of our guys is high, and wins like that kind of show that they believe in each other and can trust in each other.”
The game remained close from start to finish. OCS led 12-11 after the first quarter but trailed 21-19 at halftime. The Saints again led 34-30 after the third, but OCA finished the fourth quarter and overtime on a 9-3 run to take the home victory.