A steal at the top of the key and then a layup at the buzzer gave the Tea Area Titans a 49-47 win over the West Central Trojans on Thursday, February 1st.
The two teams went back and forth in the opening quarter, and West Central ended the quarter with an 11-10 lead. The Trojans led 16-15 with 6:15 to play in the second quarter. The Titans outscored West Central 11-2 the rest of the quarter for a 26-18 halftime lead.
The Trojans scored the first eight points of the third quarter and tied the game 26-26 with 5:50 left in the quarter. West Central had a one-point lead, 31-30, with 3:00 to go in the quarter. Tea ended the quarter on a 6-0 run for a 36-31 advantage going into the fourth quarter. The Trojans retook the lead 42-40 with 4:08 to play. The teams again traded leaded, and then Trevin Price hit a three-point shot with under a minute to play to put West Central ahead 47-45. Two made free throws by the Titans with :27 to go tied the game 47-47. On the next Trojan possession, Marshall Smythe tipped a pass at the top of the key into the back court, raced to pick up the ball, and put it through the hoop on a layup as the buzzer sounded for the win.
West Central shot 41% (17-42) overall in the game, 32% (6-19) from three-point area, and 58% (7-12) from the free-throw line. Tea finished the game shooting 32% (17-53) overall, 25% (6-24) from three-point area, and 82% (9-11) from the free-throw line.
Jake Kuhl finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, and five blocked shots. Connor Mebius had 11 points and five rebounds. Crew Heier added 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Brodie Herr and Price both had three points each.
