- December 26, 2024
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Father Lopez guard Isaiah Eberheart did not score a point in the first half. But when it counted most he couldn't be stopped.
Eberheart hit two driving layups in the final 30 seconds of overtime, including the game-winner with 1.5 seconds left as the Green Wave defeated Matanzas 60-58 Tuesday, Nov. 30, at the Pirates' gym.
"When the game was on the line, he went to another level," Matanzas coach Henry Robinson said. "He embraced the moment."
Matanzas guard Tariq Shakir hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 50 and send the game to overtime.
The Pirates (0-2) had two chances to win in the final 1.5 ticks. A Pirates inbounds violation forced them to foul Gavin Greathouse, who missed both free throws. But a Matanzas desperation shot fell short.
"He's quick," Shakir said of Eberheart, who finished with 16 points, all in the second half. The Pirates' sophomore was tasked with guarding the Green Wave junior.
Robinson, the Pirates' first-year coach, had few complaints with the way his team played.
"I love that we played hard tonight," he said.
Matanzas controlled the boards and found success driving to the basket.
"Once we abandoned the jump shot and started attacking the basket, we were in the game," Robinson said. "Then we started jacking up 3's again. The last two minutes of regulation we took two ill-advised 3's. We got too anxious. I told them, 'you got to know when, and when not to.'"
Isaac Jones scored a game-high 18 points for the Green Wave (0-2).
Ty Smith scored 13 for the Pirates, while Michael Martinez scored 11, including a three-point play that put Matanzas ahead 53-52 with 2:37 left in OT.
Shakir and Dawson Tanner added nine points apiece, and Jude Lukaszewski had eight points. Tanner hit three of the Pirates' seven 3-pointers.
"They wanted the ball more than we did. They got to every loose ball," Lopez coach Brad Ridenour said. "They played extremely hard. If we play as hard as they do, we'd be a really good team."
Matanzas' next home game is Dec. 14 against Pine Ridge.