Fouls pile up as Keith edges Wilcox

Published 11:58 pm Friday, November 18, 2016

ORRVILLE — Shatavia Moore made a layup with 20 seconds left as the Keith girls (2-1) edged Wilcox Central 51-50 in a bizarre finish.

Wilcox was forced to play the final three minutes with only four players on the floor after five players fouled out. It almost didn’t matter.

The Jaguars led by as many as seven and had a six point advantage with 3:44 left to play. Moore was fouled and on the same play Wilcox was called for two technical fouls — one on a player and one on head coach Robert Rucker.

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Moore and Erica Smiley combined to make only two of the sixth free throws they were awarded, but the damage was already done. Wilcox had its fifth player foul out on the play and the Jaguars played the final minutes shorthanded.

“I’ve been coaching for 30 years and this is the first game I’ve ever been in I had to finish with four players,” Rucker said.

Keith pulled within two on a shot by Okeemia Lewis and tied the game after two Ambreya Snow free throws.

Moore made a go-ahead layup with under two minutes to play, but Wilcox’s Brittany Kendrick answered with a shot of her own. Moore’s layup on the other end gave Keith the lead back.

The Bears survived one final shot by Jackson — one that appeared to be going in — but rimmed out at the end.

“That was hectic. From being in the game the whole game to being behind, every time we had an opportunity to take the lead, we’d make mistakes,” said Keith coach Cecil Williams.

Both teams struggled from the free throw line. Keith went 25 for 55, while Wilcox was 4 for 17.

Wilcox’s Mychel Jackson, Myia McMillian, Laquisha Jones, Kierra Smith and Alexis Harvey all fouled out. Together those five players were responsible for 33 of the Jaguars 50 points.

“I had one junior on the floor who had played, two freshmen and a senior I just picked up this year,” Rucker said of his team on the floor at the end of the game. “I was telling them let’s just keep scoring and run the floor when we can.”

Moore had 24 points and 14 rebounds and led all scorers.

Moore and Snow combined to attempt 35 of Keith’s 55 free throws.

Williams said although his team struggled at times, this is the kind of win that can help its confidence.

“They were down the whole game and they had to learn how to fight and they never gave up,” Williams said. “That shows they have a lot of hard work in them and they are dedicated to get better.”

Despite fouling out midway through the third quarter, Jones led Wilcox in scoring with 15 points.