Green Hope rallies past Cary, 61-53
Posted 2:07 a.m. today
Updated 3:38 a.m. today
Cary, N.C. — Green Hope survived a slow start Friday night to defeat Cary, 61-53, and claim the regular-season sweep of the Imps.
"It was a big game, but sweeping anybody in our conference is big," said Green Hope head coach John Green. "Every win is big against a program like Cary, and it means a lot."
Cary swept Green Hope in the regular season last year, but the Falcons got redemption with a victory over the Imps in the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference tournament championship game.
The Imps controlled play early in the contest Friday night and led after the first eight minutes, but Green Hope senior Chuck Hills knocked the ball away and scored with seconds remaining to trim the Falcons’ deficit to one point.
Green Hope once again had more late-quarter heroics in the second frame.
Junior Justin Grant hit the back end of a 1-and-1 with 12.6 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 34-33 lead.
Cary junior BJ Keith was fouled on the Imps’ next possession and sank two free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining to reclaim the lead before halftime.
It didn’t take long for Green Hope to snatch the lead back from Cary in the second half, and the Falcons never looked back. Green Hope drained four triples in the third quarter and outscored the Imps 16-7.
Senior Jordan Bates-Williams hit the final three-point basket of the quarter as time expired to push the Falcons’ lead from five to eight points with eight minutes remaining in the ballgame.
Green Hope’s Ryan Shaffer scored seven of his game-high 20 points in the final frame. The senior put the game on ice in the latter stages after scoring and converting on an and-one free throw.
Shaffer and Bates-Williams combined to score 31 points Friday night.
Cary junior DJ Horne led the Imps with 17 points, and junior Jett Fortuny added 11 points in the loss. Senior Phillip Blackley and Keith combined for 18 points, each scoring nine points apiece.
Green Hope (15-4, 5-0 Tri-6) will return to action against Athens Drive at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Raleigh. Cary (11-6, 3-2 Tri-6) is slated to host Panther Creek on Tuesday.