BOCA RATON – Atlantic and Boca Raton have faced off twice before tonight’s game, but this time it was playing for the district title.
Both teams would play tough defense early on and pretty much go shot for shot. Atlantic would have a 20-15 edge after the first quarter, scoring on multiple fast break plays.
Cade Long would tie the game up at 23-all after a hard charging layup and a fast break in the second.
Atlantic guard Rodwens Albert would knock down a long range three to give his team some momentum and force Boca into a timeout.
Maxime Demeus would get on a roll for the Bobcats and knock down two long range threes in the second to lift his team to a 36-31 lead at halftime.
Atlantic would close in on Boca Raton throughout the third after a three-pointer and circus act layup in traffic by Kadeem Wilks. The Eagles would take a 44-43 lead with a little over two minutes left in the third.
Despite Atlantic’s defensive pressure, Boca Raton would still lead 48-46 at the end of the third.
Demeus would knock down a three-pointer to get the Boca crowd hyped up as his team tried to pull away early in the fourth. But Atlantic would take a 57-55 lead after knocking down a couple of free throws midway through the fourth.
Late in the fourth, the teams would go shot for shot and tie the game twice.
Demeus would knock down two clutch free throws and give Boca a 63-61 lead. But Wilks would come right back, as he knocked down a huge three to give Atlantic a 64-63 lead with under a minute left in the game.
Boca Raton’s Peter Senatus would force overtime after going 1-for-2 at the free throw line.
Wilks would give Atlantic a 66-64 lead midway through overtime. The Eagles would keep their feet on the gas in overtime and knock down their free throws to defeat the Bobcats 75-68 and claim the District 10-9A title.
Leading scorers for each team
Atlantic: Kadeem Wilks with 22 points and Rodwens Albert with 20 points
Boca Raton: Maxime Demeus with 25 points and Cade Long with 22 points