Bulldogs overcome Longhorns in overtime

Published 5:14 pm Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Behind a double-double performance from Hampton’s Wyatt Lyons, the Bulldogs were able to sneak past the Johnson County Longhorns 64-60 in an overtime showdown Monday night in Mountain City.

Lyons led Hampton with 18 points and 15 rebounds during Monday’s contest after leading the Bulldogs with 17 points during their win over Happy Valley last week.

During Monday night’s contest, Hampton, after Johnson County jumped out to a 50-48 lead midway through the fourth, put up an 8-2 run to take a 54-50 edge. However, Johnson County’s Bud Icenhour ripped the net with a three to cut the lead to 54-53, before Hampton’s Adam McClain, who was a threat inside all night, hit a mid-ranger jumper to push the ‘Dogs out to a 56-53 lead with just 14 seconds left to play. With just four ticks left on the clock, Icenhour hit a deep trifecta to tie the game at 56-56 and to send the contest into overtime.

In the extra period, Hampton went 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to outscore the Longhorns 8-0 to in OT. Lyons also had a basket in overtime to help the Bulldogs’ cause.

“They kept making big plays,” said Hampton head coach Ned Smith about the Longhorns in the final moments of the third quarter. “They made a big three there. We came out in overtime and made some baskets. I think a big difference was that we were strong with the ball there at the end and we made our free throws.”

In overtime, Hampton’s Chris Holtsclaw was 4-of-4 from the foul line.

Coming out of the first quarter, the Bulldogs led JC 13-9. In the second quarter, Hampton led the whole time. In the final minutes of the first half, the Longhorns outscored Hampton 7-1 with Icenhour knocking down a three to send the teams into the half with the ‘Dogs leading 28-27.

Holtsclaw finished the night with 14, while McClain recorded 13.

Hampton will make the trip over to Unicoi on Saturday before taking on Unaka next Tuesday.