BOYS' BASKETBALL: Edwards' FT lifts Spring Creek

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on January 13, 2017 7:49 AM

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Spring Creek 47, Rosewood 46

* SEVEN SPRINGS -- Before Wednesday's matchup against Rosewood, Spring Creek head coach Taylor Jones told his players that it was going to be a dogfight.

Jones doesn't lie.

Grinding through a turnover and foul-infested game, Spring Creek's Tahj Edward's sank a free throw with 0.5 seconds left to give the Gators a hard-fought 47-46 victory over the Eagles.

"We had to be the most composed team," Jones said. "And at times, I don't know if we did that, but I thought we did a good job of it. I credit them for how hard they played."

The moments without composure came in the fourth quarter when the Gators were up 44-37 with almost two minutes left.

Two baskets by Rosewood's Jaikel Coley cut the lead to 44-41. Then a basket by Tucker Chapin narrowed it to 44-43 with 1:37 remaining. Conner Vernon capped off the run with a single free throw to give Rosewood a 45-44 lead with 50.9 seconds left.

"Never quit attitude," said Eagles' head coach Daniel Mitchell. "We could've hung our heads there in the fourth when things weren't going our way, but we didn't. We played with a lot of heart and a lot of intensity."

After exchanging free throws, the score was once again tied at 46.

After Spring Creek's Edwards missed two free throws, Rosewood took possession. However, Chance Howard's 3-pointer fell short. Edwards gained possession and was bumped by the Eagles' Marquel Vaughn.

Shaking off his previous two misses, Edwards sank the game-winning free throw to push the Gators ahead.

"To win that game, in that style -- we lost these games last year and we lost these games earlier in the season," Jones said. "We had to find a way to win."

Najee Young led SC with 20 points.

Vernon paced the Eagles with 11 points.