Wednesday, Feb. 01, 2012

Cleveland turns the tables

Rams win back-to-back close games, ending a run of close losses.

The Cleveland boys basketball team found itself on the wrong end of several close contests earlier this season, including losing two games at the buzzer and six games by five points or less.

To say they were due to turn the tables would be an understatement.

The Rams switched roles Wednesday night as they played host to North Johnston and gutted out a 65-60 victory in overtime

The win came one night after the Rams took down Eastern Wayne by three points in yet another close battle.

"It was just good to get two wins like that," said Cleveland coach James Williams. "It's just the kids playing with more confidence. It's just good to get some wins; it's exciting for the kids."

The Rams hit 19 of their first 24 free throws in the second half and overtime to remain in the lead for much of the stretch run.

But North Johnston came roaring back in the fourth quarter. After falling behind 50-41 with four minutes remaining in regulation, the Panthers went on a 9-0 run in just a two-minute span to tie things up.

After the Panthers turned the ball over with two seconds remaining in regulation and the game tied, Cleveland's Jourdan Sanders launched a shot that hit off the back rim, sending the game into overtime.

But the Rams (5-14 overall, 2-6 Eastern Carolina 3A Conference) kept their cool, despite their track record in close games this season.

A Jarrod Sealey coast-to-coast steal and lay-up ended with a three-point play that gave the Rams the lead from the outset of the overtime session.

"Like I told them, 'When you're tied or you're up, just be poised and good things will happen,'" said Williams. "So hopefully we've turned that corner."

Charles Sanders drew the Panthers to within 59-57 with 1:37 left in overtime, but in the end, North (10-8, 5-4 Northern Carolina 2A) was unable to convert enough opportunities into points.

"We've got some kids who can shoot the ball and we've just gone into a stretch where we can't hit shots," said North Johnston coach Derrick Johnson. "It allows teams to stay in the zone (defense) longer than they should."

Sealey finished the game with 24 points while Bobby Stenborg turned in his usual workmanlike performance of 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Rams. Trey Daniels paced the Panthers with 14.

As for the Panthers, Johnson hopes his team can regroup for the team's final four conference games of the regular season: "It's difficult for me but it's particularly difficult for young kids to understand that, when you're going through a losing streak, that you've got to put it behind you and move on."