Three Pointers and Free Throws Lead Cobras to Double Overtime Win

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College

Hartsville, S.C. - With less than 10 seconds left in regulation, Vatrick Thompson drained a 3-pointer from the corner to send the Coker versus Queens game into overtime tied at 59. Then after a hard fought five minute overtime, Stevie Evans hit a fade away 3-pointer with just 1.2 seconds left to send the game into a second overtime tied at 74. And in the second and final overtime, another Thompson 3-pointer and six clutch free throws from Joselle Bracy gave the Cobras their second overtime victory in the last week, defeating the Royals of Queens, 90-84.

It was a back and forth battle from the start with 22 lead changes and 14 ties in 250 minutes of play, with each team holding slight advantages over the other. Queens (4-14, 3-9 Conf. Carolinas) out shot the Cobras from the floor, 42.6 percent from the floor compared to Coker's (9-9, 5-6 Conf. Carolinas) 36.3 percent. However, Coker held the advantage on 3-point points, 24 to 15 and free throw points, 24 to 21.

In a battle under the basket, Queens pulled down 49 rebounds, while Coker grabbed 48.

Thompson (Columbia, SC) tied for the game high, scoring 21 points with five rebounds; Mason Ambler (Atlanta, GA) registered one of two Coker double-doubles with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Bracy (Ruby, SC) had the second double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while going a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Josh Poston (Myrtle Beach, SC), Michael Gore (Landis, NC) and Evans (Columbia, SC) each were in double figures, with Poston dropping in 17, Gore getting 10 and Evans picking up 13.

For the Royals, Patrick Fox had 21 points, including hitting four from beyond the arc, while Daniel Bailey had a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Reggie Hopkins had 14 points and was 6-for-6 from the line, and J.B. Baldwin had 12 points for the Royals.

Coker returns to action on Wednesday, February 4, at 7:30 p.m., while Queens will face Anderson at home with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.