Opp boys, girls pick up wins at Florala

Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 30, 2010

The Florala Wildcats narrowly came away with a home victory Thursday night over Opp but lost in overtime, 58-51.

Florala and Opp were both tied at 49-49 when regulation ended.

The Bobcats shot out quickly to a 53-49 lead with 1:22 left on the clock, but the Wildcats cut the game back to 53-51 and quickly called a time out.

Opp’s Tyler Harrison went to the line for a 1-and-1; made his first and missed his second shot to enable his team to take a 54-51 lead with less than 40 seconds left in the contest.

Opp was fouled again by Florala but the free throw was missed.

On a rebound, Opp took a 57-51 lead. Its last point came on a free throw from Maur.

Opp assistant boys coach Ron Johnson said the needed “adjustments” helped out late in the game.

“We played well and adjusted to the game late to win it,” Johnson said. “I think our kids stepped up and played man-to-man well.

“We adjusted to the game and the environment and it was a good win,” he said.

In regulation, Opp led 12-11 after the first and on a three-pointer by Erik Vega at the buzzer, Florala took a 25-24 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Florala outscored Opp 14-10. Opp bounced back in the fourth going on a 15-10 run to force the game into overtime.

“It was a great effort,” Florala coach Brad Garner said. “We played hard enough to win and I feel bad for the kids that we didn’t. They realized just like I did that we had some mistakes that were crucial in the ball game. We did some things real well.

“It all boiled down to some turnovers and crucial situations and that was the difference in the ball game,” he said.

Tyler Harrison led Opp with 16 points and Gavin Free and Streadman Gerber added 10 points apiece.

Zac Fleming led Florala with 15 points, nine of his points were three-pointers and Lavoris Ball added 13.

In girls varsity action, the Opp Lady Bobcats beat Florala, 43-22.