It was no surprise when the Continental High – North Baltimore Boys Basketball game went into extras as the two teams played it close most of the game. No team had more than a 4 point lead until the visiting Tigers took a 9 point lead in the fourth quarter only to have the Pirates battle back. The Pirates opened up the nights scoring with Gavin Huff hitting a 3. A basket by the Tigers was followed with another 3 by Huff. A 3 by the Tigers was matched by a 3 from Mitchell Coleman Pirates 9, Tigers 5. The two teams traded baskets with Pirates getting there’s from Huff. A pair of Tiger 3s was sandwiched between a Coleman basket to make it 13 all. Coleman would end the quarter scoring and give the Pirates a 2 point lead after 1. Pirates 15, Tigers 13.
The second quarter would open with Pirate Huff making a free throw to make it the Pirates by 3. A basket by the Tigers was followed by a Taron Butler free throw. A 5 point run by the Tigers was stopped when Coleman put in a basket. A free throw by the Tigers was followed by a Coleman 3 to give the Pirates a 22 – 21 lead. A basket by the Tigers would finish off the quarter scoring. Tigers 23, Pirates 22 at half.
Halftime entertainment was provided by the Elementary grades boys team scrimmaging.
The Pirates came out the halftime break by putting in the first 4 points as Jaden Warner put in a free throw and Andrew Hoeffel a 3. A 3 by the Tigers evened the game at 26 and was followed by a Warner basket to make it a Pirate 2 point lead. The Tigers would put together a 6 point run to take a four point lead 32-28 but that was all the Tigers would finish with in the third. The Pirates would close out the quarter with Reed Warnement free throw and a Huff basket to make it Tigers 32, Pirates 31 heading into the fourth.
The Pirates put in the first points of the fourth as Huff would hit a free throw tying the game at 32. Then it was all Tigers as they put together 3 two-pointers and a 3 to take a 9 point lead Tigers 41, Pirates 32. The Pirates would claw back into the game with a 7 point run of their own as Butler would hit a 3 followed by a Coleman 2 and a 2 pointer by Butler. A basket by the Tigers was followed by 3 made Pirate free throws 2 from Coleman and 1 from Warner to make it Tigers 43, Pirates 42. A basket by the Tigers gave them 45. The Pirates would make it 45 all when Coleman hit a 3. 45 all after 4.
Pirate Coleman opened up the extra quarter scoring by hitting a free throw to make it Pirates 46 – 45. A pair of 2 pointers by the Tigers gave them a 3 point lead that Coleman would take away with one shot. Pirates/Tigers 49 all. Hoeffel hit a free throw to give the Pirates the lead for good at 50-49. A scrum at the Tigers end ended up with Hoeffel with the ball going to the line and a techinal on the Tigers. Hoeffel made one free throw and Coleman made two make it Pirates 53, Tigers 49. One more free throw by Coleman would finish the night’s scoring at Pirates 54 Tigers 49.
Mitchell Coleman put in 26 for the Pirates while Gavin Huff added 12. Taron Butler scored 6, Andrew Hoeffel 5, Jaden Warner 4, and Reed Warnement 1. Coleman put in 4 three-pointers for the Pirates, Huff 3, Butler and Hoeffel 1 each. The Pirates were 14-24 from the line.
Continental improves to 3-16 and will host Putnam County League rival Kalida on Friday. Kalida currently leads the PCL as they attempt to sweep the boys and girls basketball crowns. North Baltimore is now 2-15. Continental took the Junior Varsity game 46-37.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
