Cardinals Survive Overtime Thriller, Take Down Harford
In a back-and-forth overtime thriller, the CCBC Catonsville men's basketball team secured their eighth win of the season, defeating Harford Community College by a score of 109-107.
Catonsville saw three players set new career highs in points as four players scored 20 or more points. It was the feisty Cardinals defense that saved the day, recording a pair of clutch steals in overtime to secure the victory.
Catonsville opened the contest staring at an uphill battle, as they fell behind 8-0 in the opening minutes. Behind the sharp three-point shooting of freshman guard Jalen Yates (Baltimore City College HS), the Cardinals pulled back into contention, as Yates tied the game at 10-10 with one of four straight threes he made off the bench.
Yates would sink another deep three to give Catonsville their first lead of the night at 17-15, but the Fighting Owls of Harford came roaring back. The rest of the first half was a game of keep-away, as the Cardinals kept the contest within one possession without ever taking the lead. Heading into the break, Catonsville trailed 45-41.
The start of the second half saw both teams clamp down defensively. Catonsville once again was forced to play keep-up, and though layups from both freshman point guard Maurice Smith (Newtown) and freshman guard Damien Hopkins (Oakland Mills) were able to tie the game, the Cardinals were unable to pull ahead.
As the second half wore on, the game became a furious back-and-forth. A clutch shot by Hopkins at the eleven-minute mark gave Catonsville their first lead of the half, and Yates sank a pair of threes to extend the lead to 73-70. As the back and forth continued, Harford began to pull away in the closing minutes, sporting a five-point lead with less than a minute to go.
It was Hopkins who saved the day in regulation for the Cardinals. Fouled on his way to the basket with 38 seconds left, Hopkins iced his free throws to tie the game at 90. After a quick Owl score, Hopkins took a dish from Smith to the rim, tying the game with nine seconds left at 92.
The back-and-forth continued in overtime, with neither team giving the other an inch. Again finding themselves in a five-point hole, the Cardinals methodically came back to tie the game, then took the lead off a layup by freshman guard Keith Bullock Jr. (Cardozo). After a pair of Harford free throws, the Cardinals were down 107-106 with a minute to go. A Harford foul allowed Hopkins to knock down two free throws to take a 108-107 lead, but 38 seconds still sat on the clock.
It was Yates who iced the contest, stealing the ball with 26 seconds to go and drawing a foul that extended Catonsville's lead to 109-107. The Owls had one last chance at a miracle, but Smith ripped the ball free from an unexpecting Owl player with six seconds to go to clinch the victory.
Yates finished the evening with a career-high 29 points, nine three-pointers, and five rebounds. Maurice Smith also set a career-high, dropping 27. Hopkins had his best night of the year, dropping 20 points (also a career-high) and notching eight rebounds. Bullock recorded his first-career double-double, dropping 21 points and 11 assists. He also led the team with five steals.
Next up for the Cardinals is their final home game of the season against CCBC Dundalk on Friday, February 18 at 7 p.m.
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