What the girl’s game lacked in intensity and drama, the boy’s game more than made up for it. The Eagles were able to withstand the Blue Devil's charge in the second half to force overtime and then took the victory in the extra period, 50-49.
ACA looked good early as they jumped out to an 8-3 lead highlighted by treys from Mac Moorer and Christian Snipes. Notasulga tied the game 9-9 midway through the quarter, but the Eagles answered with a 9-0 run that extended into the second period. Conner Mark ended the run with a three to build an 18-9 advantage. After Notasulga hit a long one, Moorer connected twice to give ACA its largest lead of the night at twelve points. The teams traded baskets in the last minute of the half as Alabama Christian left the floor with a 26-16 lead at the break. Moorer paced the team with 13 points in the half.
The home team came out in the second half and increased the defensive pressure to help build momentum and stir up the fans. At the end of the third, the teams traded threes like two heavyweights trading punches trying for the knockout. Down 30-33, Notasulga tied the game and then took the lead after an ACA turnover with another bomb. Now down by three, the Eagles punched back with a Mac Moorer basket to tie it and took a 39-37 lead to the fourth on another Moorer three.
The fourth period stayed close as neither team led by more than three points. Late in the quarter, Sam Davidson cut the deficit to one point as he scored on a putback off a missed layup for his only score of the night. With 2:10 left, the Blue Devils seemed content to run the clock, but became impatient and launched an ill-advised three that was rebounded by Darius Gardner. As the shot left the player’s hand, the coach from Notasulga could be heard yelling “Why?!?”. ACA missed a shot and gave up a score to trail 43-46 with less than a minute left. Tyree Saadiq found Christian Snipes for a clutch three with 25 seconds left to tie the game and eventually force overtime. Notasulga held for the last shot and did not get a good look as the buzzer sounded.
In the extra session, Notasulga’s first possession ended on the foul line, but two misses later, the game was still tied. After a turnover on its second possession, the Blue Devils ended up on the line again only to miss two more freebies. With 2:14 left in overtime, neither team had scored. ACA finally broke through as Darius Gardner rebounded a Mac Moorer miss and drew a foul. Gardner hit both chances at the line for a 48-46 lead with 2:06 remaining. Notasulga scored with 1:25 left with a chance for the lead on the and-one opportunity but again missed the free throw to leave the game tied. Both teams turned the ball over on their next possessions as the tension mounted. After an ACA timeout, Conner Mark asked the official if he could move as he inbounded. The official said no and shook his head, but moved his arm back and forth like the signal to be able to move. Mark did move on the inbound attempt and was called for a turnover due to the poor communication he received. Notasulga took advantage and was fouled on the next play. The home team made one of two for a 49-48 lead with 46.7 seconds left. ACA called timeout with 20.6 seconds left to set up the winning play. Conner Mark found himself on the left baseline and with a shot fake moved closer to the basket to make a runner with just 8.0 seconds left on the clock. Notasulga called timeout twice in the final seconds desperate to get a shot off but were unable as Gardner stole the ball to end the game.
Mac Moorer scored 22 points to lead the offense with six rebounds and a blocked shot. Christian Snipes finished with 12 points, including the three that forced overtime, and two rebounds. Darius Gardner had eight points and a team-high 14 rebounds. Conner Mark ended the night with five points, the biggest being the game-winner in overtime.
ACA closes out the regular season at home against Pike Liberal on Friday night.