The Westwood Patriot boys basketball team is undefeated heading into the Christmas break after topping Kingsford 68-65 in an overtime thriller Friday night in Kingsford.
The Flivvers scored the first five points of the game off of Westwood turnovers before building an early 7-2 lead. The Patriots responded with seven consecutive points and the two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the opening quarter.
The Flivvers used an 11-2 run to build their largest lead of the night at 26-17 midway through the second frame but Westwood resounded with a 12-2 run to retake the lead, capped by a Marcus Boase three-pointer. Kingsford rallied to take a 33-31 advantage into halftime.
The Flivvers build a seven point lead midway through the third quarter before Westwood rallied to get within 44-42 in the final minute of the frame. Taylor Dellangelo forced a steal near midcourt but collided with an official and the ball rolled out of bounds with two seconds left. Kingsford was awarded possession and connected on a half court buzzer beater to take a 47-42 lead into the fourth.
Westwood clawed their way back and got within one possession late. Kingsford missed five free throws in the final minute of regulation, including three in the final five seconds. Trailing 56-54 with 2.9 seconds to play, Zach Carlson calmly sank two free throws to tie the game and Kingsford’s half court heave at the buzzer was off the mark.
Mason Mariuzza converted an old fashion three-point play to open the overtime session but the Flivvers responded with an 8-0 run. Trailing 64-59 with 90 seconds left, Mariuzza and Taylor Dellangelo scored back-to-back layups to get the Patriots within a point. Kingsford split a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession and Matt Paavo’s layup with 33 seconds left tied the game at 65-all.
Dellangelo picked off a Flivver pass near midcourt, was fouled and sank both free throws with 22 seconds to play. The Patriots got the ball back with 13 seconds remaining after forcing a jump ball and Mariuzza was promptly fouled. Mariuzza split two free throws and Kingsford never got a three-point shot off before the final buzzer.
Carlson led Westwood with 18 points before fouling out early in the overtime period. Dellangelo finished with 16 points, Ty Alderton added 12 and Mariuzza 10 to lead four Patriots in double figures. The Patriots move to 3-0 and return to action January 6th at West Iron County.