By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The game was close the first half in the Indians matchup against the Greenville Spartans, but that would change late in the contest.
The RCS boys’ varsity basketball team hosted the Spartans on Jan. 25 and would take a victory with a final score of 54-45, but the outcome was far from clear the first three quarters.
With the Indians up 4-2 in the opening moments of the game, RCS’s Eddie Reville stole a pass by Spartans’ Jack Motta and passed the ball downcourt to Jack McFerran, who drove to the basket and scored a two-pointer, giving the Indians an early 6-2 lead.
By the end of the first period, the two teams would be all tied up at 12.
The Spartans got off to a hot start at the top of the second quarter, with Motta breaking the tie on a two-pointer with 6:30 to go in the second and was fouled on the play. Motta made the free throw, giving the Spartans a 15-12 lead.
Spartan Nicholas West hit a three-pointer moments later to bring the score to 18-12, with the Indians failing to score since the first period. Timeout was called.
The hometown squad would make its first score of the quarter on a three-pointer by Reville with 4:50 to go in the half, bringing the Indians to within three, with the Spartans up 18-15.
Reville was fouled on a three-point attempt with 4:21 left in the quarter and missed all three free throws. The score remained Spartans 18, Indians 15. Timeout was called seconds later at 4:00 to go in the half.
Coming out of the timeout, the Indians took possession and drove the ball downcourt, but the Spartans’ West stole the ball to take over. The Spartans failed to take advantage and the Indians reclaimed possession.
Ryan Southworth on the Indians would break the stalemate, scoring from under the basket with 2:10 to go in the half to bring the Indians to within one point.
The Indians’ Jack McFerran scored a two-pointer with just under a minute to go in the quarter, giving the Indians their first lead in the second period, edging the Spartans 19-18.
But with four seconds left in the half, Motta would drop in a two-pointer to give the visitors the lead once again at Spartans 20, Indians 19. Reville made a shot at the halftime buzzer but missed, sending the Indians into the locker room down by one.
Greenville’s Motta made the first score of the second half, a two-pointer with 7:20 left in the third to bring the score to Spartans 22, Indians 19.
RCS’s Jayden McClellan returned the favor seconds later, scoring a two-pointer to bring the Indians to within one. The Indians took the lead on a Southworth two-pointer under the basket.
McFerran extended the Indians’ lead to 25-22, and then Reville hit a three-pointer from downtown to give the hometown team a 28-22 lead.
The Indians began pulling away on a pair of three-pointers by Wyatt Algozzine and Reville.
The third quarter marked a turnaround in the game for the Indians with contributions from several top players.
“We were able to knock down some big shots in the third quarter against man and zone defenses that really allowed us to build a strong lead,” Coach Eric Stott said. “Greenville continued to pressure and hound our guards down the stretch, but Wyatt Algozzine, Eddie Reville and Xavier Bermudez were able to control the ball and handle their pressure. Jack McFerran had a phenomenal game in all facets. His ability to run the floor in transition and hit the offensive glass were crucial as he was able to get a lot of high percentage shots for our team.”
By the top of the final stanza, the Indians were up 43-31 before McClellan stole the ball, drove it down court and gave the Indians a 45-31 edge.
The Indians never looked back, ending the game at Indians 54, Spartans 45.
“As the season has progressed, I have been pleased with the progression of the young players on the roster,” Stott said. “They are beginning to feel more comfortable with the speed of the game and their improved decision-making is visible. The older players have done a great job of including the young sophomores into the fold and working together with them.”
After the Indians’ big win Tuesday, the news would not be as good three days later when the Indians competed in an away game against the Cobleskill-Richmondville Bulldogs and lost by a score of 58-42.
