BASKETBALL
THE OPELIKA BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FINISHES SECOND IN AREA TOURNAMENT, EARNING A STATE PLAYOFF BID
The Opelika boys basketball team lost a heart breaker to Central 66-63 in the area 7 tournament finals, in Phenix City on Monday night. The Dawgs (26-5) had not lost since January 8th, reeling off 12 straight wins before the 3 point loss.
Central (23-3) had lost 2 of the 3 prior meetings this year to Opelika, with one loss coming in the “Palace” (Centrals home court). The only home loss in two years.
In the first half the lead changed back and forth until the last minute. Central used an 11-0 run to take what would be the largest lead by either team at the intermission. The Dawgs, after a pep talk from 3rd year head coach John Wadsworth, started the second half with a sense of urgency, chipping the lead back to 1 in the first five minutes of the third quarter.
Opelika, the number 3 team in the state, held a 2 point lead with 29 seconds left in the game when O.H.S. guard Morris Lockhart stole a Central pass and raced to the goal with what would have been an easy layup. Central player, Yurmon Barnes sprinted behind Lockhart pushing him in the back as he was tryng to score and was whistled for what appeared to be an intentional foul. The official changed his mind as he went to report the foul, saying the foul was before the shot and was not intentional. The change cost the Dawgs 2 free throws and the ball at half court. Lockhart hit one of two free throws to increase the lead to 3.