Late turnover, foul in final seconds lift King & Queen to win over Charles City

Charles City's DelMonta Johnson (4) escapes the pursuit by King & Queen's Lamont Robinson.

Andre' Jones photo

Charles City Panthers head coach Terrell Brooks said that his team had ample opportunities to win Friday night’s Winter homecoming match-up against King & Queen. But for most fans, it will be the last 3.4 seconds of the contest that will linger in the back of their minds.

An errant entry pass on an inbound that resulted in a foul allowed D’Andre Hill to sank two free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining as King & Queen’s Tigers escaped with a 60-58 victory over the Panthers, spoiling the festivities.

After defeating Charles City 79-62 the night before on their home floor, King & Queen wasted little time jumping out on the Panthers. A steal and dunk by Lamont Robinson spark a small run by the guests. Charles City’s Tanner Grubbs converted an easy basket from a Kameron Johnson’s assist before his baseline lay-up and assist to Leo Charity brought the hosts within three. Johnson’s steal and lay before the end of the frame cut King & Queen’s to one (14-13) as the transition into quarter number two took place.

After exchanging several scores, Johnson and Grubbs hooked up again to tie the game at 20 apiece. Grubbs added a free throw and a bank jumper to increase the hosts’ lead to three. Johnson’s trifecta doubled that margin and provided Charles City a 26-20 lead. The Tigers made a little headway as Bryce Robins free throw and Robinson’s conventional three-point play only provided the hosts a 28-25 lead at the break.

Following the intermission break, Charles City’s frontcourt duo of Grubbs and Charity continued to plague King & Queen. Leading by one (30-29) Grubbs close range basket and Charity’s follow increased the lead to five. After both teams exchanged three-pointers, Charity converted a three-point play opportunity, providing Charles City’s its largest lead of the contest (40-32).

But it only took the Tigers 90 seconds to reclaim the advantage on the scoreboard. Robinson’s trifecta and D’Andre Hill’s steal and lay cut the gap to one (40-39). Moments later, Xavian Montgomery’s follow-up gave the visitors the lead. He added a three-pointer at the end of the quarter that pushed King & Queen’s lead to six (48-42).

For most of the fourth, King & Queen keeping Charles City at a distance. With back-to-back buckets by Robins and Gerald Hill, Brooks called a timeout at the 4:16 mark, looking for a spark as his team trailed 58-51. That spark came in the form of Johnson. The sophomore guard tossed in a free throw before connecting with a three-pointer to cutting the deficit to three. On the next trip down, Robinson picked up his fifth foul on a loose scramble for the ball to disqualify for the game. His teammate Gerald Hill followed shortly afterwards to the bench as he grabbed Charles City’s Charity’s arm on the rebound. Charity sank one of two free throws to get the hosts back within two (58-56). At the 2:30 mark, Johnson’s wing jumper in front of the home bench dropped, sending the sellout crowd in a frenzy and a tied game.

After a Tigers’ timeout, they elected to move the ball and kill time. Eventually, a drive by Robins drew a foul on the Panthers, giving him the opportunity for free throws as the Tigers were in the bonus situation. However, Robins missed it and the ball ended up in multiple hands, resulting in a tie-up and Charles City ball. However, the Panthers shot went errant and King & Queen took over with 46.8 showing on the clock.

More time milked off the clock before King & Queen’s D’Andre Hill drove baseline to the basket. But Charity sent his shot to the Tigers’ bench and deflected off Robins. As Robins dove, the referees ruled he stepped out prior to the save, giving Charles City possession with 3.4 remaining on the clock.

After a Panthers’ timeout, Charles City’s DelMonta Johnson looked to inbound the pass to Kameron Johnson. Instead of the connection, the attempt was intercepted by D’Andre Hill. Hill took a dribble and got up a three-point attempt. As he did, Charity’s block attempt instead resulted in him hacking the shooter’s arm, forcing the referees to call a foul with 1.5 ticks remaining. D’Andre Hill drained the first two free throws before his third clanked off the front of the rim, only to be rebounded by the Tigers and have the clock expire.

After the game, Brooks said that his team squandered many opportunities throughout the contest.

“It’s the same stuff that we have been stressing all year,” he said, pointing to the missed lay-ups and free throws in the game that the Panthers failed to convert. “We didn’t have any good ball security and we had valuable turnovers.

“This is one that we should have one, but King & Queen played better,” Brooks continued. “We have to work on game situations, knowing the time and foul count, and doing the small thing.

“Our defense did play good in spurts, but we need to play better in every situation,” the coach said as he began to wrap up the interview. “The last play didn’t really hurt us, but we know that we can’t foul the jump shooter.”

Johnson’s 25 led Charles City (3-14) in scoring. Grubbs and Charity also finished in double figures with 15 and 10, respectively, while Christian Stewart rounded out the scoring with eight points.