Albany loses to Itasca at area playoff
By Sam Waller
For the second year in a row, the Albany Lions were eliminated from the Class 2A boys basketball playoffs in the area round, falling 49-42 to Itasca on Friday, Feb. 24, at Dublin.
The Lions advanced with a 54-53 overtime victory against Seymour in bi-district, played Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Graham.
Albany finished the season 14-6 after tying Cisco for second place in District 10-2A despite starting the season six weeks late because of football.
“At the end of the day, we were very pleased with what we did this season as a team,” Lions coach Ryder Peacock said. “We had a rough start, but we picked ourselves up and responded. We didn’t let ourselves get down, especially with the first loss being our first district game.”
Peacock said he was pleased with how the team competed in every game despite the late start.
“We had a chance to win just about every game we played,” he said. “We kept them pretty close and were in most games most of the way. The guys competed hard and accepted every challenge we threw at them.”
Against Seymour, Adam Hill hit the deciding free throw with 16 seconds remaining in overtime. The Panthers were able to get three shots with a chance to win, including a pair of point-blank putbacks that rolled off the rim before London Fuentes grabbed the clinching rebound.
Hill finished with 21 points with Fuentes and Lute Wheeler each adding 14.
Peacock said being in several close games in district play helped Albany pull out the victory.
“When you’re in playoff-type games pretty much the whole second half of district, you’re prepared for games like that,” he said. “The guys have been in those situations and didn’t let the pressure get to them. They just kept playing basketball and kept grinding.”
Albany won the bi-district game at the free throw line, making 26 of 39 attempts while Seymour finished 10 of 18. Hill, Fuentes, and Wheeler combined to go 7 of 10 in overtime, accounting for all of the Lions’ scoring in the extra period.
Seymour led most of the way, going up 31-22 early in the third quarter. Albany rallied to take a 41-40 lead in the fourth to set up a frantic final minute.
The Lions trailed 45-44 when Hill missed two free throws with 24 seconds left in regulation, but Albany got the rebound, and Hill was fouled again, making two free throws with 16 seconds to go.
Seymour missed its next shot, and Luke Marshall was fouled with three seconds left. He made one of two for a 47-45 lead. Albany was called for a foul with 0.6 seconds on the clock, and Seymour’s Hagan Anderson hit both free throws to force overtime.
Anderson, who finished with 30 points, was Seymour’s only scorer in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Against Itasca, foul trouble forced three Albany starters to the bench in the first quarter, and the Wampus Cats took advantage to build a 17-9 lead.
“The fouls just really hamstrung us,” Peacock said. “I thought we started off pretty well, but Adam went out the first two or three minutes, then Wyatt (Windham) went to the bench and London shortly after. We were basically playing from behind from that point on.”
The Lions were forced out of their normal style of play by the situation, and Hill and Windham eventually fouled out.
“We weren’t ever able to be an aggressive basketball team from that point on,” Peacock said. “I felt that’s what set us back.”
Albany was able to get back within a basket, but was never able to claim the lead in the second half.
“It was pretty tight, back and forth,” Peacock said. “Itasca hit a couple of shots away a little bit.”
Hill finished with 16 points, and Fuentes and Lanxton Viertel each scored eight.
ALBANY 54, SEYMOUR 53 OT
ALBANY – Adam Hill 21, London Fuentes 14, Lute Wheeler 14, Wyatt Windham 2, Brayden Watson 2, Luke Marshall 1.
Albany 7 15 11 14 7 - 54
Seymour 12 14 12 9 6 - 53
ITASCA 49, ALBANY 42
ALBANY – Adam Hill 16, London Fuentes 8, Lanxton Viertel 8, Brayden Watson 5, Luke Marshall 3, Wyatt Windham 2.
Itasca 17 8 11 13 - 49
Albany 9 12 9 12 - 42
