OREGON — In the final 1:30, Clay junior guard Jay Williams missed four free throws in a one possession game, and two attempts did not even hit the rim.
However, on a feed from senior guard Emir Walker, Williams scored the game-winning layup at the buzzer to give Clay a 62-60 Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division victory over Bowling Green at Harold Potter Field House Tuesday.
It was the perfectly designed play at the right time.
Clay improves to 6-5 and 3-1. It is the third time BG has blown a significant lead in a conference game, falling to 5-7 overall and 1-3 in the NLL. BG coach Mason Roth says he’s looking for answers.
“At this point I don’t know what to do,” Roth said. “I’m at a loss. I mean, this is the third conference game we’ve blown in the second half.”
BG had a remarkable first half, scoring the game’s first nine points and taking a 23-5 first quarter lead. BG senior guard Ahmir Ruffin hit a 23-foot three-point shot at the halftime buzzer to put the Bobcats ahead, 44-26.
Ruffin had scored 17 points by halftime, including three triples and going 6-for-6 from the free throw line, and the Bobcats shot 58% (15-for-26) from the field, sinking eight three-point shots.
So, Clay coach Lionel Armstead decided his defense needed to show up in the second half if the Eagles were to get back in the game.
“I needed five guys to stop letting them get open shots,” said Armstead. “The first half they were getting comfortable, they were blowing by us, they were getting open shots.”
Clay’s defense went entirely man-to-man and stuck to the Bobcats’ shooters like glue as BG’s offense hit a brick wall to start the second half. The Eagles were back in it before the fourth quarter started.
Clay outscored BG 22-4 over the third quarter with Walker scoring on an offensive putback with 15 seconds left to tie the game for the first time, 48-48.
“I just challenged them at halftime to just man up,” Armstead said.
Roth said it was as if his offense, enjoying the 18-point halftime lead, just stopped doing what it does best.
“Well, we relaxed. I told them not to relax,” Roth said. “For some reason we got away from moving the ball and getting very stagnant and going a lot of one-on-one. It’s been the same story all year.”
The fourth quarter never saw either team lead by more than two possessions, staying nip-and-tuck until Williams decided it by scoring his game-winner.
A lot of the fourth quarter comeback was driven by Clay starting 6-foot-3 junior guard Mason Heintschel, who finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and three steals — every point, rebound and steal came in the second half, but he fouled out with 1:19 remaining.
“He’s a tough kid,” Armstead said. “He’s the quarterback of the (football) team, and that is where he is going to spend his college youth, but he brings toughness and everything to our team.”
Walker had 20 points and nine rebounds and Williams finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for Clay as the Eagles held a 34-25 edge off the glass.
Ruffin scored a game-high 23 points with five rebounds and five steals, BG senior guard Jacob Amspoker had 13 points and five rebounds, and junior forward Tomas Meek had nine points and five caroms.
BG junior forward Karter Shank scored seven points, junior guard Ja’ceous Shannon had six points and two steals, and senior guard Brayden Freyman added two points.
The Bobcats finished the game shooting 45% (22-for-49) from the floor, made 8-of-9 free throws (89%) and had nine turnovers.
The Eagles shot 52% from the field (28-for-54), made just 2-of-11 free throws (18%) and had 14 turnovers.
Clay senior forward Logan Lajiness scored eight points, junior guard Dom Pegish scored five points, and senior guard Lucas Jeremy contributed three points.
