With a little drama, Shawnee tops Timber Creek
Maybe this is how it's going to be for the Shawnee boys' basketball team.
Maybe this is how it's going to be for the Shawnee boys' basketball team.
Maybe the Renegades are going to win a lot of games with dramatic comebacks, in pulse-pounding fashion.
"We're finding a way to win," Shawnee coach Joe Kessler said after the Renegades survived a major challenge from Timber Creek and emerged with a 47-44 victory in overtime in an Olympic Patriot game on Thursday night.
Shawnee senior Josh Borrelli scored all eight of his team's points in overtime, including a three-point play with 2.6 seconds left on the clock.
Borrelli drove the lane and made a layup while fouled. He added the free throw for his 23d point.
Senior forward Tristan Polnitz scored 13 and grabbed seven rebounds for Shawnee (4-0, 1-0 Olympic Patriot).
Senior guard George Sapp scored 17 for Timber Creek (2-1, 1-1).
"These guys made me proud," Timber Creek coach Rich Bolds said. "I'm not one for moral victories, but they showed me something out there. I thought we could steal one."
Sapp led a furious comeback from a 21-12 halftime deficit. But the Chargers' top playmaker fouled out with 43 seconds remaining in regulation.
"Would have been nice to have him out there" in overtime, Bolds said.
Shawnee is undefeated, but the Renegades have trailed in the fourth quarter in three of their four games.
Timber Creek took a 33-28 lead on a three-point play by Wendell Thomas with 4 minutes, 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Shawnee battled back as Borrelli hit a pair of three-point jumpers and Polnitz was 4 for 4 from the foul line.
Borrelli, one of South Jersey's best shooters, was 2 for 8 from the foul line in regulation. But he was 6 for 7 from the foul line in overtime.
"We've already been in a lot of tough games," Kessler said. "But I give our kids credit. They are finding a way. That's what seniors do."
Shawnee 15 6 4 14 8 - 47
Timber Creek 6 6 12 15 5 - 44
S: Josh Borrelli 23, Tristan Polnitz 13, Ryan Bodnar 5, Austin Lang 4, Ryan McKenly 2.
TC: Jeff Lewis 5, Brandon Cornelius 8, Wesley Primas 3, George Sapp 17, Wendell Thomas 7, Keith Washington 4.