Boys basketball fights for overtime victory on senior night

Catherine Hooley|March 4, 2021

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Catherine Hooley
Seniors Adam Holod, Noah Lindeman, Ivan Starchook, Patrick Hooley, Levi Mellin, Evan Reynolds and Ahmed Umer were all celebrated during a senior night ceremony right after the game.

On March 3 the SPA boys varsity basketball team played Math and Science Academy for senior night. The Spartans led throughout most of the first half with the ending the first half with a 26-23 lead. Both teams played an aggressive game; SPA racked up 8 fouls in the first half, while Math and Science Academy had 6. It was a game full of buzzer beaters in both halves; at the end of the first half junior Brandt Baskerville made the tie breaking three point shot with just a few second left.

Math and Science Academy made a come back in the second half, leading by about 7 points for much of the half. With minimal time left in the game, the opposing team led 44-47 and SPA decided to implement their press, which put the pressure on and eventually led to overtime. As SPA caught up and tied the game 50-50, both teams tried to put up shots but none were successful and the game went into four minutes of overtime.

Both teams were also in bonus at this point, and many who were watching the game were unsure of the outcome of the game. “‘Who wants it more?’ That’s what everyone was yelling from the bench and both teams had to keep it in mind. It wasn’t our best performance, but ultimately we fought harder for the win,” senior Patrick Hooley said. The final score of the game was 61-50, as SPA pulled away in overtime and played an offensive four minutes.

After the win, seniors Adam Holod, Noah Lindeman, Ivan Starchook, Patrick Hooley, Levi Mellin, Evan Reynolds and Ahmed Umer were all celebrated for senior night.