The CCBC Titans flipped the script on the Golden Eagles on Tuesday night in Monaca, PA, upending the navy and gold 79-76 after losing to them by 40 points in late November.
In a game where KSU Tusc struggled mightily from behind the three-point arc and free throw line, they still had an opportunity to win the game. They made just five triples in 28 chances and converted on just 11 of 23 opportunities from the charity stripe, making just 4/10 tosses down the stretch after grabbing a late lead.
The best the Eagles could do in the opening half was a 10-10 tie after an Ethan Bower trey at the 13:42 mark. From there the hosts built a 13-point lead (32-19) before KSU scored the last four points of the stanza and trailed 39-31 at the break---quite different from the 51-23 advantage they had at intermission on November 26th.
Early in the final half, the Eagles got into gear and drew to within a single point at 49-48. They did so mostly behind the play of the Shockley brothers. Kameron followed up a miss by Kyle for an easy hoop, and Kyle returned the favor on a miss by his older brother. At the end of the run, Kameron made a dunk off a straight line drive from the top of the key and received a nice give and go from Vinny Roper for another hoop forcing CCBC to take a timeout.
They tied the game for the first time since it was 10-10 (57-57) courtesy of a full court driving layup by Kameron Shockley after he pilfered the ball under the Titan basket. The Eagles took their first lead 59-57 on a Darion Lee putback with 9:38 to play and clung to a tight 67-66 margin until the Titans sank a three after an Eagles turnover steal the lead back 69-67. The lead change overshadowed some great work underneath the basket by Lee who finished with nine points and eight rebounds---four of them on the offensive glass.
After a pair of KSU misfires on triples the Titans increased deficit to 76-69 with just 1:08 left in the game. Kyle Shockley split a pair of free throws and Ethan Bower stole the CCBC rebound on the missed second shot for a basket with :49.4 ticks remaining to cut the lead to 76-72.
A couple of free chances with :32.2 left stretched the lead to 78-72 making it desperation time for the Golden Eagles. Kyle Shockley split another pair of tosses and a Reche Dixon three-ball after a missed freebie by CCBC to cut the lead to 78-76 with only :11.9 seconds remaining. With :10.7 left to play the Titans missed the back end of a one-and-one and Kyle Shockley raced into the front court to call a timeout with :06.8 left trailing 79-76.
Out of the timeout, KSU Tusc's play led to a wide open three ball that missed its mark wide to the right as the buzzer sounded.
For the Eagles now 12-6 and losers of two of their last three games, Kyle Shockley recorded a double-double scoring 24 points and snaring 10 rebounds, while Kameron Shockley also had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. Kyle made 10/19 action shots and Kameron made 5/11.
On Saturday the Golden Eagles host Ohio University Lancaster in a 1pm tipoff.
Kameron Shockley tries to work his way to the basket against the Titans defense and Juwan Coates looks for an opening.
(Photos by Lindsey Nicholson)