This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Boys Basketball: Patapsco Downs Kenwood in Triple-Overtime

Patapsco junior guard Devon James led all scorers with 35 points.

Senior forward Akeem Echols scored a team-high 28 points and had nine rebounds for Kenwood on their Senior Night, but it was not enough as Patapsco took the game 68-59 in triple overtime Wednesday night in Essex. 

Patapsco outscored Kenwood 14-5 in the third overtime to win the game. Patriots junior guard Devon James led all scorers with 35 points, many of which came during after regulation.

Kenwood (11-11) had its chances to win the game, but 23 turnovers and poor free throw shooting allowed Patapsco to finish on top. 

Find out what's happening in Dundalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bluebirds coach Chris Kelly said the turning point was when his team made a run after intermission. The Bluebirds fell behind 28-21 at halftime, but stormed back in the second, outscoring Patapsco 25-18 to send the game to overtime. 

“We killed ourselves at the free throw line,” Kelly said of his team that missed six of its first seven free throws in the second half. “When you get to overtime anything can happen.” 

Find out what's happening in Dundalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The win was the second straight for Patapsco (16-5) after a string of four recent losses.

The Patriots started the game on a 5-0 run during a time when many of Kenwood’s regular starters were not in the game. In honor of senior night, Kelly gave the nod to a few soon-to-be graduates that had little playing time this season. 

Shortly after Patapsco took an early five-point lead, the Kenwood regulars came into the game and went on a 7-0 run. The Patriots answered with another 5-0 run to close out the first quarter with a 10-7 lead. 

Kenwood never led the game during the second half, but a 14-9 run to open the half pulled the Bluebirds to within two points. 

Echols converted a three-point play with 24.4 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 46. 

The two teams combined to score just eight points in the first and second overtime periods.

Echols scored on a layup with 11.2 seconds left in the second overtime to give Kenwood a 54-52 lead. But Patapsco’s James hit two free throws later to force a third overtime. 

“Both teams played hard,” Kelly said. “But neither team took advantage until Patapsco did so in the third overtime.” 

Although the Bluebirds finished the regular season 11-11, the program has to be happy with the turnaround from last season. In 2009-2010, Kenwood went 4-16 overall. 

Next is the regional state tournament. Brackets and seeds have yet to be announced, but stay turned to Patch for more information.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?