Medomak Valley sophomore John Murray came up huge for the Panthers in their 64-62 win over Lincoln Academy on Dec. 23 in Newcastle. Murray scored 25 points, including eight off the offensive glass, hauled in 14 rebounds, and had seven blocks and two assists in the Panthers’ win. The win snapped a two game losing streak for the Panthers, and ended a two game win streak for the Eagles.
The two teams battled evenly in first quarter action, exchanging the lead eight times with two ties in the mix. Lincoln scored the final five points of the quarter on a basket from Everett Martin and a three-pointer from Jalen Lincoln with two seconds left to take a 16-15 lead into the break.
Lincoln built their lead to nine points in the second period, out scoring the Panthers 20-12, with six players figuring in on the scoring. Dylan Leavitt led the charge with eight points, including connecting at the foul line for three, three-point plays.
Medomak began their comeback in the third period, rattling off the first six points of the quarter, on baskets from Alex Greenrose, Isaac Greenrose and Murray. Murray stifled the Eagles’ offense with four blocks in the frame. A. Greenrose scored 7 and Murray 5 in the period to close the gap to three at the end of three, 45-48.
A. Greenrose opened the final frame with a big three-pointer to tie the score, then gave the Panthers the lead with six minutes to play. Murray went inside for two hoops on passes from Shane Osier and I. Greenrose to boost Medomak’s lead to six. D. Leavitt cut it to five at the foul line, before Murray crashed the glass for two to boost the lead to seven.
Ryley Leavitt scored on a Jalen Lincoln feed and Stephen Quinlan settled two at the foul line to cut the lead to three. Murray exchanged points with the Leavitt twins to maintain a three-point lead with 1:43 to go.
The Greenrose twins boosted Medomak’s lead to seven with 19 seconds to play, when Isaac scored on an Osier feed, and Alex sank two at the charity stripe (winning points). Brandon Reilly hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to four, and Jalen Lincoln scored on a Reilly feed to cut the lead to two, before time ran out for the Eagles.
Lincoln held a 33-30 advantage in rebounding for the game. Medomak out rebounded the Eagles 11-7 in the pivotal fourth quarter.
Scoring for Medomak were Murray 25 (14R,7B,2A), A. Greenrose 13 (4R,2A), I. Greenrose 9 (2R,4A), Deering Genthner 4, Isaac Durkee 4, Jon Hendrickson-Belloquet 3, Kyle Durkee 2, Ryan Ripley 2 (4R), and Shane Osier 2 (5R,2S,2A). Scoring for the Eagles were Martin 13 (6R,2B), D. Leavitt 13 (5R,1B), Reilly 10 (8R,4A), Quinlan 9 (3A), Jalen Lincoln 7 (8R,8A), R. Leavitt 6, Kyle Scherer 2 (4R,3A), and Nic Phinney 2.
