“It was the game we were looking for,” said O’Bannon High School boys basketball coach Torrione Carter after his team’s thrilling 61-59 road victory at Greenville High School Saturday night.
Heading into Saturday’s contest, the Greenwaves had not beaten the Hornets since 2010, a streak which included a 17-point loss earlier this season.
This time, however, the Greenwaves would not be denied as all of the O’Bannon key players contributed in the win that saw the Greenwaves hold on to their small lead for the entire fourth quarter and finally celebrate after a last-second 3-pointer from a Greenville player missed the mark.
"We just kept working hard and we never stopped believing in ourselves." O’Bannon Octavia Wilson said after being hugged by teammates and adoring Greenwave fans who helped pack the Greenville gymnasium Saturday.
Four Greenwave players finished the night in double figures and Wilson adding nine points. O’Bannon’s Daishun Scott and Kaylon Swilley each scored 12 points, while Joshua Curtis and Donovan Lewis each scored 11 points. Scott also finished with 11 rebounds and two blocks. Curtis and Keyshonne Daniels had six rebounds.
“To have four players score in double figures means we played the way we were looking to play,” Coach Carter said. “This win is big for us. We have not beaten them is so long. It is good to finally have some bragging rights.”
Now sporting a 13-6 record, O’Bannon is off to its best start since Coach Carter took over the program four seasons ago. The Greenwaves’ victory over Greenville came a day after Curtis scored 37 points in a 72-55 win over Palmer.
In Saturday’s win over Greenville (9-10), a Curtis put back with 2:27 left in the game put the Greewaves up by five points at 58-53. But, the Hornets responded with two baskets of their own, including a crowd-erupting slam dunk by Jequann Roberson, to cut the O’Bannon’s lead to two points, 59-57, with 1:16 on the clock.
Greenville would have a chance to tie or take the lead on its next possession, but the Hornets failed to make three straight shots with O’Bannon’s Daniels pulling down the rebound on the final attempt.
Greenville Coach Delmar Sporouse credited Coach Carter and the Greenwaves players for the victory.
“O’Bannon is a good team, and there press had us a little confused,” Coach Sprouse said. “Usually, we are really good against the press. I told the team that games are meant to played for 32 minutes, and we did not play well enough for all 32 minutes.”
Greenville’s Morgan Green led the Hornets with 22 points. Justin Wright scored 11 points. Roberson scored seven. Tre’Onte Hall and Aaron Davenport each scored five. Greenville’s Kentrell Carter led the Hornets with seven rebounds, five offensively.
The loss Saturday snapped a three-game win streak for Greenville, who next game is scheduled for Tuesday night at home against Cleveland Central.
O’Bannon is scheduled to play at Leland Tuesday night.
