With the score tied at 62-62, Hardin-Jefferson was content to let the game’s last minute tick down for the final shot. Livingston’s T.J. Garner had other ideas. Near midcourt, he stole the ball from Hardin-Jefferson point guard Taveyian Thomas and sprinted to the other end, hitting a layup with just 21 seconds remaining.
The Lions would hold on through a final Hawk possession to win 64-62 Tuesday night in Lion Gym, taking a key district match.
“I think I got a few more gray hairs tonight,” Livingston coach Sean Berry said. “That last one, I was sweating it. I was running back through the Rolodex of plays in my head from being in this game for 41 years. I know he is going to drive, but how can we stop it. Your mind is just racing at that point, because that lull is there. T.J. came up with that steal and it was huge. That was an awesome steal.”
With the win, the Lions are now 2-1, while the Hawks drop to 1-3 in District 19-4A.
Early on in the first quarter, the Lions performed well on the boards, getting plenty of second and third chances on the offensive end. However, many shots, even from close range, would not fall. The team fought through their struggles and drove to the basket enough to stay within four at 17-13 after the opening period.
“I came into this game worried if we were going to shoot well or if they were going to drop back and make us shoot from outside,” Berry said. “I knew I wanted to go fast and we couldn't let them set up their press. I washed the J.V. and freshmen do it. That press was just killing them. I don't think they did it after the first three or four minutes. They got out of it quick. I was a little worried, but I knew our guys would fight until the end.”
Behind all night, the Lions finally tied the game with 10 seconds to go in the third quarter, setting up an even match going into the fourth. They trailed by double digits in the third and looked lost at certain points, but turnovers turned into quick buckets, getting Livingston back into it in a hurry.
Livingston took a lead 45 seconds into the fourth quarter. Their biggest spread was at six a minute later. Yet, the Hawks would come all the way back. They led by two with just under two minutes to go.
Cory Dirden and T.J. Garner led the Lions with 14 points apiece. Dirden scored nine in the first quarter. Ziekus Garner was held without a point in the first half, but poured in 12 over the final two periods. J.T. Randolph also had 12 points.
“That is the biggest turnaround that I have seen from last year to this year, is that we just don't quit,” Berry said. “We absolutely fight until the finish, and it is one of the principle things that I wanted them to do this year better than last year. Last year when a few things went wrong, they shut down and quit. They keep plugging away and eventually it will go our way. I was really proud of them tonight.”
The coach said the experience of being down in games like West Orange-Stark or Hargrave has taught the team to keep fighting. They have lost games, and even been blown out, like versus Hargrave, but the team did not stop the effort.
They will need to continue fighting Friday, as they go for their first district road win down Highway 59 in Shepherd.
