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Anacoco, La. —
The DeRidder Dragons had every opportunity to come away with a win.
The Anacoco Indians missed 7-of-8 free throws over the final 90 seconds, giving the Dragons many chances to cash in.
However, DeRidder (11-5) was unable to do so as the Indians (14-2) held on for a 41-40 victory on Tuesday.
The win was the 14th straight for Anacoco since it opened the season with back-to-back losses to Hornbeck and Many.
Anacoco never trailed in the game, although the Dragons battled back several times in the contest to tie things up, including a three-pointer from Tre Obanion with about a minute to go in the game.
After the teams exchanged a pair of early buckets, Anacoco center Matt Moss scored eight straight points for the Indians on a three-pointer from the top of the key, a trio of free throws and a bucket in the post.
With Anacoco leading, 10-2, the Dragons got a bucket each from Ryan Greene and Kevin Gamble to get within four, but baskets by Josh Deon and Chris Lenahan pushed the Indians out to a 14-6 lead at the end of the first period.
The Indian lead grew to 10 points, 18-8, early in the second quarter after a pair of free throws from Moss and a basket in the lane by Deon.
Dwain Conway answered with four points for the Dragons, but a free throw by Clinton McCrary and another Moss bucket in the post allowed Anacoco to work back out to a 21-12 lead.
Greene drilled a three-pointer, which was followed up by a basket from DeShazor Everett, getting DeRidder back to within four late in the first half.
However, Anacoco took a 23-17 lead into the intermission as McCrary scored on a jumper in the waning seconds of the second quarter.
Raimon Gates went to work for DeRidder early in the third period, scoring six of the first eight points of the second half as the Dragons closed to within two, 25-23.
However, John Reese connected on his only basket of the night to give Anacoco a four-point cushion, only to see Everett score on a layup, getting the Dragons back to within a deuce.
Anacoco responded with a conventional three-point play by the 6-9 Moss, but Gates hit a pair of free throws a little later, which was followed by a three-pointer from JoDarius Jones, tying the game at 30-30.
But Moss scored five late points for Anacoco, pushing the Indians out to a 35-32 lead heading into the final frame of regulation.
The Indians managed to go back up by six points as Moss posted another three-point play early in the fourth quarter.
But on the ensuing DeRidder possession, Jones delivered a three-point play of his own, getting the Dragons back to within three, 38-35.
Gates scored on a jumper in the post to get DeRidder to within one, but Lenahan drilled a pair of free throws to push Anacoco out to a 40-37 lead with just over two minutes remaining.
Opting to foul to try to get a few more possessions, DeRidder put Reese on the line with about 90 seconds to go. Reese missed the front end of the 1-and-1, but the Dragons were unable to convert.
Again, DeRidder put Reese on the line, this time with 1:09 to go. Again, the front end was no good and the Dragons quickly got the ball up the court, where Obanion drained the triple to tie it up at 40-40.
With 51.5 seconds to go, Reese was again fouled. But this time, the double bonus was in effect and he made 1-of-2 to give Anacoco a 41-40 edge.
Just over 10 seconds later, Jones had two free throws to give DeRidder the lead, but he missed both and Anacoco got the rebound.
With just over 18 seconds left in the contest, McCrary was fouled. However, he missed both free throw attempts, but managed to get the ball back for Anacoco.
About six seconds later, Reese was back on the line, where again, both free throws fell no good.
Over the final 12 seconds of the game, the Dragons got several good looks at the basket, but all attempts fell no good as time expired, leaving the Indians with the victory.
Moss led the Indians with 25 points and eight rebounds, while McCrary added five points. Lenahan and Deon each finished with four points, while Reese had three points and seven boards.
Gates paced the Dragons with 10 points, while Greene and Jones finished with seven and six points, respectively. Obanion added five points, while Gamble, Everett and Conway contributed four points apiece.
The DeRidder Dragons had every opportunity to come away with a win.
The Anacoco Indians missed 7-of-8 free throws over the final 90 seconds, giving the Dragons many chances to cash in.
However, DeRidder (11-5) was unable to do so as the Indians (14-2) held on for a 41-40 victory on Tuesday.
The win was the 14th straight for Anacoco since it opened the season with back-to-back losses to Hornbeck and Many.
Anacoco never trailed in the game, although the Dragons battled back several times in the contest to tie things up, including a three-pointer from Tre Obanion with about a minute to go in the game.
After the teams exchanged a pair of early buckets, Anacoco center Matt Moss scored eight straight points for the Indians on a three-pointer from the top of the key, a trio of free throws and a bucket in the post.
With Anacoco leading, 10-2, the Dragons got a bucket each from Ryan Greene and Kevin Gamble to get within four, but baskets by Josh Deon and Chris Lenahan pushed the Indians out to a 14-6 lead at the end of the first period.
The Indian lead grew to 10 points, 18-8, early in the second quarter after a pair of free throws from Moss and a basket in the lane by Deon.
Dwain Conway answered with four points for the Dragons, but a free throw by Clinton McCrary and another Moss bucket in the post allowed Anacoco to work back out to a 21-12 lead.
Greene drilled a three-pointer, which was followed up by a basket from DeShazor Everett, getting DeRidder back to within four late in the first half.
However, Anacoco took a 23-17 lead into the intermission as McCrary scored on a jumper in the waning seconds of the second quarter.
Raimon Gates went to work for DeRidder early in the third period, scoring six of the first eight points of the second half as the Dragons closed to within two, 25-23.
However, John Reese connected on his only basket of the night to give Anacoco a four-point cushion, only to see Everett score on a layup, getting the Dragons back to within a deuce.
Anacoco responded with a conventional three-point play by the 6-9 Moss, but Gates hit a pair of free throws a little later, which was followed by a three-pointer from JoDarius Jones, tying the game at 30-30.
But Moss scored five late points for Anacoco, pushing the Indians out to a 35-32 lead heading into the final frame of regulation.
The Indians managed to go back up by six points as Moss posted another three-point play early in the fourth quarter.
But on the ensuing DeRidder possession, Jones delivered a three-point play of his own, getting the Dragons back to within three, 38-35.
Gates scored on a jumper in the post to get DeRidder to within one, but Lenahan drilled a pair of free throws to push Anacoco out to a 40-37 lead with just over two minutes remaining.
Opting to foul to try to get a few more possessions, DeRidder put Reese on the line with about 90 seconds to go. Reese missed the front end of the 1-and-1, but the Dragons were unable to convert.
Again, DeRidder put Reese on the line, this time with 1:09 to go. Again, the front end was no good and the Dragons quickly got the ball up the court, where Obanion drained the triple to tie it up at 40-40.
With 51.5 seconds to go, Reese was again fouled. But this time, the double bonus was in effect and he made 1-of-2 to give Anacoco a 41-40 edge.
Just over 10 seconds later, Jones had two free throws to give DeRidder the lead, but he missed both and Anacoco got the rebound.
With just over 18 seconds left in the contest, McCrary was fouled. However, he missed both free throw attempts, but managed to get the ball back for Anacoco.
About six seconds later, Reese was back on the line, where again, both free throws fell no good.
Over the final 12 seconds of the game, the Dragons got several good looks at the basket, but all attempts fell no good as time expired, leaving the Indians with the victory.
Moss led the Indians with 25 points and eight rebounds, while McCrary added five points. Lenahan and Deon each finished with four points, while Reese had three points and seven boards.
Gates paced the Dragons with 10 points, while Greene and Jones finished with seven and six points, respectively. Obanion added five points, while Gamble, Everett and Conway contributed four points apiece.
