LANDIS — South Rowan’s boys basketball team wouldn’t take “No” for an answer Tuesday night.
Disregard the Raiders’ recent history — three straight blowout losses to Central Piedmont Conference opponents this month. And forget about the 14-point deficit they faced midway through the second quarter against visiting North Davidson.
When push came to shove last night, South muscled its way to an edge-of-your-seat, 83-79 triple-overtime victory.
“We never gave up,” senior Joel Patterson exhaled after the marathon match. “We were up and then down, then up again and down again. But we got to the point in the third overtime where we said, ‘We just have to win.’ ”
South (9-8, 1-3 CPC) can thank Patterson. The 6-4 power forward scored a career-high 17 points and made the decisive three-point play with 32.5 seconds remaining in the third OT period. He took a bounce-pass from economy-sized point guard David Lane, drove the left baseline and kissed a tie-breaking layup off the glass — all while being mugged by North’s Lane Banner.
Patterson was one of several Raiders who rose to the occasion. There was Lane, whose night’s work included 11 points, 12 assists, four steals and three charges taken. “He smiles when he hears his name and the word assists together,” said Davis.
Then there was lefty Andrew Morgan, the scud missile launcher who dropped six 3-pointers on the visiting Black Knights (11-6, 1-3 CPC), the last of which tied the score 76-all with nine seconds left in the second overtime. He matched his season-high with 26 points, including 10 in the third quarter.
Finally there was Tre Hornbeak, the senior forward who contributed 13 points and triggered a 12-0 run that saw the Raiders mount a 63-52 lead with 4:49 remaining in regulation. Unfortunately, he twisted his left ankle moments later and never returned. His status remains questionable.
“Games like this are fun,” said Lane. “Tiring, but fun. We played smart, patient basketball. Our guards penetrated well and our big guys finished.”
At the time, no finish seemed bigger than Morgan’s 3-ball that forced the final OT. It was a designed play, discussed during a timeout with South trailing 76-73 and 17.8 seconds on the clock.
“Whether we were down two or three, we wanted him to take that shot from the corner,” said Davis.
In the final extra session, it came down to Patterson’s game-winner.
“I remember David penetrated down the lane and pulled my man to him,” he said. “Then he saw I was open and dished it.”
Lane added a free throw with 15.7 seconds to play before North misfired on three desperation shots. When the final buzzer sounded, South’s Jarrel Mack was dribbling out of a crowd.
“It’s a good game to win,” Davis smiled. “They all are. But this gets us off our snide and back in the race.”
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NOTES: South hosts rival A.L. Brown tonight before returning to conference play against visiting South Iredell on Friday.
NORTHDAVIDSON (79) — Wilkes 20, Roach 19, Noble 17, Turbeville 7, McKenzie 6, Koonts 4, Banner 3, Walmsley 2, Scott 1.
SOUTHROWAN(83) — Morgan 26, Patterson 17, Hornbeak 13, Lane 11, Corriher 9, Keener 3, Overcash 2, Propst 2, Biles, Mack, Terry.
North Davidson 16 16 16 20 3 5 3 — 79
South Rowan 11 18 20 19 3 5 7 — 83
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