Heartbreak as Panthers lose at buzzer against King and Queen

Charles City's Antonio Harris draws a foul while driving hard to the hole against King and Queen's Davon Gordon.

Andre' Jones photos

Fans of the Charles City Panthers basketball team are probably tired of hearing the following scenario: big lead, comeback, back-and-forth game, buzzer beater.

King and Queen’s Alex Holmes hit a fadeaway jumper in front of Panther defenders as time expired, pulling a huge upset with a 77-75 win for the visiting Tigers. The win is King and Queen’s first victory in over two years.

Early on, the host Panthers and Tigers alternated leads throughout the opening frame. Charles City opened some distance between the visitors thanks to an 8-0 run midway in the second quarter to give the Panthers a 33-23 lead. Charles City’s up-tempo style matched the visitors basket for basket as the Panthers took a 41-34 lead into the break.

After Craig McElroy gave the Panthers a 10-point margin with 5:49 remaining in the third (48-38), the Tigers offense suddenly sparked back to life. Davon Gordon’s three trifectas would be a key contributor as the visitors put together a 14-0 run to overtake Charles City (52-48). A Mahlik Natiel three-pointer from just in front of the scorer’s table gave King and Queen a 57-53 lead heading into the fourth.

Charles City’s leading scorer Antonio Harris showed the visitors why he was the go to player. Harris orchestrated a 6-0 run of his own to knot the game at 64 apiece. Gordon returned the lead to the guests with a pair of free throws, but Panther diminutive guard Jestin Harris converted a floater to tie the game at 66.

Gordon was stripped by Charles City’s Gavin Cotman on the next possession down and committed a foul in retaliation, resulting in his disqualification. Cotman’s free throw would be just another one of the 23 lead changes in the game.

Antonio Harris’ free throws closed the margin to 73-70 for the guests with :43.9 remaining. King and Queen would miss three ill-advised shots, but maintained possession through offensive rebounds, leading to Holmes getting fouled. Holmes converted one of two freebies at the line to give King & Queen a two-possession lead (74-70).

Harris quickly hustled down the floor and nailed a wing three-pointer with :22.1 left and Panther head coach Aaron Dodge immediately calling a timeout. The Panthers elected to intentionally foul Kalyle Holmes, who sank one of two free throws to up the margin to two for the Tigers (75-73).

Once again, Harris became a playmaker, driving to the rim and drawing a foul on a Tiger defender. The senior guard converted both free throws to tie the game at 75 with :11.9 showing on the clock.

King and Queen pushed the ball down the court, with a pass deflected out of bounds by the Panthers with :01.7 left. Inbounding from the sideline across from the visitors’ bench, Alex Holmes dove inside the paint and popped back out. Catching the ball and releasing it over the outstretched hands of Panther defenders, the ball swished through the net as the horn sounded, giving the Tigers the memorable win.

After the game, an obviously frustrated Panther head coach spoke about the previous few games where his team has blown big leads.

“We just don’t know how to play with them,” Dodge said, also pointing to a lead lost in a matchup against Mathews on Dec. 17. “I don’t know if we’re nervous or not poised, but we can’t keep giving away games like this. This is something we are definitely going to have to fix.”

Charles City (2-4) received another game high from Antonio Harris, who pumped in 35. Thomas Kelly added nine, while McElroy tossed in eight, Jestin Harris and Gavin Cotman contributed six, Kyle Jones scored four, Noah Ragland added three, and Khairi Wyatt and James Adkins chipped in two apiece.

Alex Holmes and Gordon led King and Queen (1-5) with 15 apiece.

Panther guard Jestin Harris tries to use a quick move to blow by Tiger defender Chris Edwards.