Commodores win in overtime, 63-56
Dave Stofcheck
Jefferson-Morgan’s D. L. Garrett hugs his mother, Maribeth Garrett, after D.L. surpassed 1,000 career points during Friday’s game against Frazier.
Jefferson-Morgan's DL Garrett looks for an opening in a game against visiting Frazier this past season. Garrett, teammate Jalen Torres and Waynesburg Central's Darton McIntire, all seniors who went over 1,000 career points this season, will play in the upcoming Roundball Classic.
Frazier’s Bradley Poling (32) and Elijah Santoro (12) battle with Jefferson-Morgan’s D.L. Garrett for position during a Section 2-AA game at Jefferson-Morgan on Jan. 26, 2018. The Commodores went up to Class 3A and the Rockets dropped to Class 1A the following season but both will return to Section 2-AA this upcoming school year. (Photo by Dave Stofcheck)
JEFFERSON — Frazier outscored host Jefferson-Morgan 9-2 in overtime Friday night, and the Commodores went home with a 63-56 win in Section 2-AA action.
Jefferson-Morgan’s D.L. Garrett scored a game-high 24 points, and he surpassed 1,000 career points after knocking down a 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter.
Brandon Lovis paced four Frazier players in double figures with 16 points. Lovis scored half of his points in the opening quarter.
Luke Santo and Bradley Poling each scored 13 points, as Frazier improved to 7-8 overall and 5-3 in section play.
Jefferson-Morgan led 22-10 after one quarter, and 35-29 at halftime.
Frazier tied the game at 41 on a Lovis 3-pointer with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter, and the Commodores led 46-45 at the third-period buzzer.
Frazier has won three straight Section 2-AA games.
“We’ve been in situations like tonight all year,” Commodores coach Zach Keefer said. “We’ve played with our backs to the wall, and we’ve been known to strive in these situations. I can’t explain it.”
Jefferson-Morgan (1-10, 1-7) played well in spurts, but could not build on its early momentum.
The Rockets scored just 21 combined points over the second half and overtime.
“We haven’t been in that situation (playing with a double-digit lead) a lot this year,” Jefferson-Morgan coach Dennis Garrett said. “Our kids want to go (with the basketball). Maybe I should have a called a timeout sooner.
“But I’m proud of the kids. They competed. I want to win, but it’s also about competing. You have to compete in life, and that’s what these kids did tonight.”
Frazier’s Justin Novak finished with 10 points. Novak hit a pair of free throws eight seconds into overtime, and Frazier never looked back.
Santo’s third 3-pointer gave the visitors a 59-54 lead with 1:36 left in overtime, but Jefferson-Morgan cut its deficit to three points when Jalen Torres dropped in a runner seconds later.
Torres was the game’s second-leading scorer, finishing with 18 points.
Section 2-AA
Frazier 10-19-17-8-9 — 63
Jefferson-Morgan 22-13-10-9-2 — 56
Frazier: Brandon Lovis 16, Bradley Poling 13, Luke Santo 13, Justin Novak 10. Jefferson-Morgan: DL Garrett 24, Jalen Torres 18. Records: Frazier (5-3, 7-8), Jefferson-Morgan (1-7, 7-10).