10/03/10

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk — Four CU players scored double digits to help guild County Upper Basketball Academy to a hard fought and scrappy 77 – 73 overtime victory over Moulton Basketball Academy on the 2nd of March. The Win improves County Upper’s record to 11 wins and 10 losses for the season and earns them a place in the Last 16 of the National Tournament.

County Upper started the game cold letting Moulton take an early 11 – 1 lead forcing coach Johnson to take a quick timeout. CU responded with an 11 – 8 run of their own to cut Moulton’s lead to 7 points 19 – 12 by the end of the quarter.

The second quarter saw CU’s cold spell continue as Moulton started by going on a 3 – 0 run increasing their lead to 10 points 22 – 12 before County Upper responded with a 7 – 3 of their own cutting Moulton’s lead to 6 points 25 – 19, both teams traded baskets to the end of the quarter. Moulton took a 3 point lead into halftime 34 – 31.

The third quarter started with CU going on a 2 – 0 run to cut Moulton’s lead to just 1 point 34 – 33, but with County Upper still shooting cold from the field Moulton replied with a 7 – 4 run of their own to increase the gap to 4 points 42 – 38, both teams traded baskets to the end of the quarter where Moulton took a 49 – 45 lead.

During the fourth quarter CU had 2 players foul out. Both teams exchanged baskets until the 7:30 minute mark where CU finally started hitting their shots which sparked a 8 – 3 run to give County Upper a four point lead 58 – 54. County then went on another 6 – 2 run to open an 8 point lead 64 – 56 with 1 minute remaining. However in the final minute Moulton hit a layup to close the gap to 6 points with 58 seconds remaining, CU then fouled Moulton’s 3pt shot on their next possession which resulted in Moulton taking advantage of the 4 point play, cutting County Uppers lead to just 2 points 64 – 62 with 22 seconds remaining. County Upper then turned the ball over with 4 seconds remaining which let Moulton take a quick timeout and score off the set play, levelling the score at 64 – 64 with 2 seconds remaining. Moulton then fouled one of County Upper’s players on the buzzer sending him to the line for 2. Missing both shots the game was destined for overtime.

In overtime CU came out sluggish letting Moulton go on a 4 – 0 run to increase their lead to 68 – 64 and forcing coach Johnson to take a quick timeout. Count Upper responded by taking over the game and dominating both the front and back court by going on a 13 – 5 run to close out the extra period 77 – 73.

County Upper resumes action in the last 16 of the National Tournament. Time and date TBA.