- November 23, 2024
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The Mainland Buccaneers’ boys’ basketball team suffered a crushing blow delivered by the Forest Wildcats with a 68-62 loss on Friday, Feb. 12, following a double overtime in the District 6A-4 championship.
The Buccaneers held the Wildcats to a 2 point lead then quickly rallied in the second quarter with 21 points, shifting the score to 33-24 in Mainland’s favor. Wildcats quickly overwhelmed the Buccaneers with a surge of 13 points, leaving Mainland with a tentative 1 point advantage heading into the final quarter. By the end of the quarter, teams were tied at 47 each which drove them into their first overtime. Both teams remained tied as they wrapped up the first overtime period.
Game intensity increased as the Buccaneers and the Wildcats sought to outdo one another on court during the bonus round. Parents implored the referees to call fouls appropriately to protect the players from injury. Free throws were abundant with Mainland’s Jalen Willis making six-out-of-seven free throw attempts.
Heading into the second overtime with a score of 53-53, the jump ball was tipped to Buccaneer Nigle Cook. Mainland was unable to convert and the Wildcats drove down court, passed the ball to Josh Cuspard who swished a 3-pointer bringing the score to 56-53. Buccaneers’ score leaders, Nigel Cook and Jalen Willis, each with 15 points, contributed to the team’s final 9 but could not overcome the Wildcats' 15 final overtime points and three of their players scoring in double digits.
Mainland Buccaneers play Fletcher in the Class 6A state tournament Thursday, Feb. 18.