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Tuesday, January 19, 2016 | BataviasBest.org
What a game at Oakfield High School last night. In a back and forth affair throughout, the Lyndonville Boys Basketball team won a huge road league contest over the Hornets by a final score of 66-65. The game came down to the last :00.9, but the Tigers managed to pull out what was their fifth-straight GR League win thanks to a huge performance from forward Eddie Schildt.
Schildt recorded 30 points on the night to pace the Lyndonville offense, scoring big basket, after big basket from inside the paint – many of which coming off strong offensive rebound put-backs. However, his biggest bucket came with :02 to go in regulation on a play which began with the Tigers on defense and the score tied.
With the ball in possession of the Hornets, and knowing that they would need a steal on the final play in order to win the game prior to regulation, Lyndonville entrusted Schildt with guarding the ball in the backcourt in hopes of causing a deflection of the ensuing inbounds pass – which they then hoped would lead to a chance at a buzzer-beater. Thanks to the fine timing on part of the Lyndonville forward, Schildt was able to do just that as he tipped the ensuing OA inbound pass before it was able to reach its target – and then gained possession of the ball as the clock started from :02.
Acting quickly following the steal, Schildt took two dribbles towards the basket then went up for a contested layup before he was fouled hard by a Hornets player – who was doing anything he could to prevent the game-winning basket. Unable to convert the layup due to the abrasive contact, Schildt then went to the free throw line where he was awarded two shots, and two chances to win the ball game.
Wasting no time, Schildt made the first clutch free throw which gave Lyndonville the lead. Then, on the second attempt, he seemed to miss the shot intentionally in hopes of winding the remaining :00.9 off the game clock.
But instead, Oakfield would get the rebound off the intentional miss and call for a timeout – giving them one final chance at a miraculous last-second heave. However, out of their timeout with just tenths of a second remaining, Oakfield would inbound from underneath their own basket and make a pass to half-court, where a Hornets player received the pass and took a dribble – only to watch the clock expire before he had a chance to get the final shot off.
Final score: Lyndonville 66 Oakfield 65 – and Schildt was the hero.
To go with his 30 points and the game-winning bucket, the Tigers’ junior also played inspired ball on the boards all night long – which in my opinion made the difference for Lyndonville down the stretch of the second half. With the Hornets continuing to miss their big man Josiah Yantz who has been out for quite some time, the OA defense has struggled mightily to rebound the basketball with efficiency during many of their league contests as of late. This game was no different, as the likes of Schildt, Nick Hinkson, and Eric Neace all had their way in the rebounding battle throughout four quarters.
In total, the trio combined for 22 rebounds vs the Hornets as well as 6 blocked shots, and Hinkson and Neace also added 10 and 14 points respectively.
For Oakfield, losers of four straight, Jon Harris led the way with 16 points, while Reice Woodward, Dalton Carlsen, and Allen Chatt were also in double-figures with 15, 12, and 10 points respectively. Woodward also chipped in 5 assists and 5 rebounds.
Lyndonville, after mowing through one of the most difficult portions of their schedule, will now face a much lighter slew of games in the near future, as Byron-Bergen, Wheatland-Chili, Barker, and Kendall all are set to face the Tigers in the coming weeks – before they finish the regular season with Notre Dame and Elba in early February.
Stay tuned for my next edition of the GR Boys Basketball Power 5 – which will likely see the Tigers near the top.
Other articles you may like:
Batavia’s Best of the Night (1/18/16) – A Lyndonville Tiger records a huge night
Monday’s High School Sports Scoreboard (1/18/2016) – Light action tonight
