Another chapter of the heated Godwin Deep Run rivalry was written this past Friday night at the Eagles’ Nest as the Wildcats snagged a 54-45 victory over the Eagles.
Both crowds were cheering their hearts out trying to push their team to victory. The night was filled with plenty of back and forth chanting between the crowds.
The Eagles came out in a man to man defense, while the Wildcats showed a 1-3-1 zone. Godwin began the scoring with a runner by junior Ricky Lewis to take the 2-0 lead. The first quarter was a tight battle with the biggest lead only being three points. Lewis had six first quarter points as the Eagles led 14-11 after one quarter.
Godwin also showed a zone defense to begin the second quarter, but an early Deep Run three pointer tied the game at 14. After another Lewis made shot and Deep Run making two free throws, the game was tied at 16, and both teams were out of their zone defenses. Godwin freshman Dillon Thomas hit a deep jump shot, and Lewis also hit a jump shot for the Eagles.
Dillon Thomas said, “I was very nervous playing in my first Godwin Deep Run basketball game.”
The Eagles lead was up to four with 1:10 left in the half, and the Wildcats were forced to call timeout to regroup. The crowd was rocking, and the Eagles were rolling. After a Deep Run three pointer and a free throw, the first half came to an end. The game was tied at 23; a fitting end to a close first half.
Two layups by Godwin senior Jacob Kessler and two Deep Run baskets tied the game at 27. After a Deep Run basket, Lewis hit a three pointer to give the Eagles a one point lead and momentum. Deep Run senior Tim Branin then led a six to nothing run to give the Wildcats a 35-30 lead. Just as it seemed the Wildcats were pulling away, Godwin senior Wayne Clevert made a layup to cut the lead to three. Deep Run responded with two three pointers and took a 41-32 lead to end the third quarter. Godwin head coach Hunter Thomas said, “The third quarter hurt us bad.”
Godwin senior Eric Englemen started the fourth quarter for the Eagles and hit a three pointer. Kessler blocked a Deep Run shot, and which lead to two Godwin free throws. Deep Run was forced to call time as the Eagles were pressuring. The next possession was a long defensive stand for the Eagles as they forced a traveling violation on the Wildcats.
Godwin sophomore Harry Trippeer was fouled and sank two foul shots to cut the Deep run lead to two with 4:12 to play in the game. The Eagles battled all the way back into the game, but then a Deep Run three pushed the lead back up to five. Both teams split pairs of free throws, and the Wildcats had a five point lead with 1:45 to go in the game.
Clevert hit a huge three for the Eagles and cut the lead to two with 1:24 left. Deep Run made a free throw to take a three point lead, and the Eagles had a chance to tie the game with a minute left in the game, but Clevert missed a three. Deep Run hit six free throws, and the Eagles turned it over and missed a shot; the Eagles’ chance of a comeback was over.
The game came to an end as the Wildcats took the victory with a 54-45 victory. Unlike last year, there was no court storming by either school, and the game ended somewhat peacefully.
Both crowds were loud and proud cheering for their schools. Godwin senior Dallas Reid said, “Our crowd was great with supporting the team.”
Lewis led the Eagles with 13 points, and Kessler led the Eagles with 10 rebounds and three assists.
Coach Thomas said, “I thought we played hard. Even when we were down nine, we worked hard to get back into the game. We need to play all four quarters next time to win.”
