Friday, in front of a loud crowd, visiting Patrick Henry and host Continental were both searching for win #4 with the Patriots striving to maintain their perfect season and the Pirate looking to level up their record. It would take extra time to decide the winner in this defensive battle. The Patriots opened up the scoring with a 3 point play while the Pirates got on the board next with a Carson Etter basket. 3-2 Patriots. A basket by Patriots and a 3 by Mason Rayle evened the score at 5. The Patriots would hit a free throw and take their last lead till the 4th quarter on a made free throw. Patriots 6-5 after 1.
The Pirates opened up the second quarter with a baskets from Carson Etter and Konnor Knipp Williams to take a 9-5 lead. A Patriot pair of free throws would cut the Pirate lead to 1 9-8. The teams would exchange baskets with Carson Etter hitting for the Pirates 11-10, Pirates. The Pirates would put in the next 5 points with Monty Rayle hitting from outside and Knipp Williams inside to stake the Pirates to a 16-10 lead. The Patriots would have a 3 rattle into the basket at the buzzer to make it Pirates 16-13 at half.
Carson Etter would open up the second half scoring for the Pirates by hitting a 3 and making it 19-13 Pirates. A pair of Patriot baskets would cut the Pirates lead to 2, 19-17. Monty Rayle would hit a 3 to push the Pirate lead back to 5, 22-17. The Patriots would put in the last 2 baskets of the quarter. Pirates 22-21 after 3 quarters. The Pirates picked up their 7th foul in the second half with 1 minute to go in the third putting the Patriots at one-and-one early.
The Patriots would take their first lead since the end of the first quarter on a basket Patriots 23-22. A Knipp Williams basket and a pair of Monty Rayle free throws put the Pirates back in the lead 26-23. The Patriots would miss the front end of 2 1n1s and make a pair of free throws for a 26-25 Pirate lead. Monty Rayle would make a basket to give the Pirates a 3 point lead 28-25. The Patriots would drain a 3 to tie the game. The Pirates held the ball the last 1.5 minutes of the game and got a good look from Rhenn Armey that hit the inside of the basket twice but did not fall in with 3 seconds to go. Patriots rebounded but did not make the winning shot. 28 all after regulation time.
It was all Patriots in overtime as they got a lead on a free throw and then captured a long rebound from the second shot and drained a 3 to put them up by 4, 32-28. The Patriots would seal the game going 4-4 from the line. Patriots 38-28 final.
Continental was led in scoring by Monty Rayle with 10 points, Carson Etter put in 7. Konnor Knipp Williams had 6 points and Mason Rayle 3.The Pirates made four 3 pointers with Monty Rayle making 2 and Mason Rayle and Carson Etter both making 1. The Patriots made three 3 pointers.
Continental falls to 3-5 and will travel to Leipsic on Tuesday. Patrick Henry improves to 4-0.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
