Tritons fall 61-57 in double overtime
The Mariner Tritons had two chances to win the District 5A-12 basketball championship Friday night. They wouldn’t get a third chance.
Golden Gate handed the Tritons their first home loss of the season, claiming the district title game 61-57 in double overtime at Frank Morris Memorial Gym.
Mariner had the ball with time to set up a shot at both the end of regulation and the first overtime, but couldn’t get the winning basket to fall. Golden Gate got the job done at the foul line in the second OT to grab the championship trophy.
The Titans hit 8-of-10 foul shots in the final overtime.
In the end, the Tritons sat stunned on their bench watching Golden Gate celebrate on their home court.
“They did the job tonight taking advantage of our mistakes,” Mariner coach James Harris said. “Give Golden Gate credit. They found a way to make plays. They made more plays than we did.”
The two teams battled back and forth all night, with neither side leading by more than six points.
“It’s just a testament to what both teams are like,” Golden Gate coach Greg Anderson said. “Both hard defensive teams.”
Golden Gate went into halftime with a 30-29 lead on Arcaim Lallemand’s jumper at the buzzer.
One big moment was a three-pointer that didn’t count. Rodney Hunter was fouled midway through the fourth quarter, putting up a long shot from the top of the key that officials originally signaled as a three with a foul shot coming up. After a lengthy discussion, with the officials ushering the teams to their benches while the conversation went on, the basket was waived off. The new ruling was that Hunter was fouled before the shot.
“You know, I don’t know,” Harris said of the reversal. “I get paid to coach.”
So instead of a 43-43 tie with Hunter at the line for a chance at the lead, the score was 43-40 Golden Gate with Hunter attempting the front end of a 1-and-1. He missed.
Hunter and the Tritons battled back to a 47-47 tie and had the ball with 23 seconds in regulation. Hunter’s jump shot didn’t go in and the game went to overtime.
With Golden Gate up two in the first OT, Hunter’s scoop layup got the Tritons even at 52-52. Mariner got the ball back with 31 seconds left and again couldn’t score the winning basket.
“We had the ball twice, at the end of the fourth quarter and the end of the first overtime, and we had a chance to win,” Harris said. “We just didn’t make those plays.”
Hunter led the Tritons with 21 points and six rebounds. Isaiah Darrett added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Jeffery Jean scored 20 points, Lallemand 16 and Jeremiah Hopper 12 for Golden Gate.
“There’s a lot of points where both teams didn’t want to win,” Anderson said. “Turnovers and missed free throws.”
Mariner had beaten Golden Gate on the Titans’ court earlier this season, and last year for the district title.
“I don’t really see it as revenge,” Anderson said. “They got us the first time. It’s been a battle the last two years. No disrespect to the other district, but I think we’re going to see them in a week and a half. So it’s going to be another battle. This time we’ll have them at our place.”
It is the second time in recent weeks a Golden Gate team handed the Tritons an overtime defeat at Mariner. Two weeks ago the Titans boys’ soccer team ousted Mariner from the state playoffs.
This one wasn’t quite as costly. The Tritons have to go on the road to Sebring in their regional quarterfinal playoff opener next Thursday, but at least the season’s still alive.
“We play Thursday,” Harris said. “Now we’ve got to get on the bus and go. We’re equipped to play anytime, anywhere.”
Golden Gate will be home Thursday against DeSoto County in their playoff opener.
Anderson said, “We’re going to celebrate a little bit tonight, but we’re going to see (Mariner) again.”