Evening Sun File Photo

Marauders avenge loss to Wildcats for 8th win of season

OTEGO – In a battle for the second and third seed in the Midstate Athletic Conference Championship Tournament, the visiting Greene Trojans and the host Unatego Spartans fought through 32 minutes of regulation and an extra eight minutes of overtime basketball.

Trailing 57-59, Unatego inbounded the ball and dribbled up the floor with 7.5 seconds left on the clock. Looking to attack the basket and tie the ball game for another overtime period, the Spartans were unable to get a look near the rim due to the packed in defense of the Trojans.

The kick-out pass to the 3-point line was covered by a Greene defender but Shea Barber of Unatego found an open spot behind the arc. After catching the pass, Barber fired up a shot with 2.2 seconds remaining.

With the gymnasium nearly silent, all eyes were on the ball as it sailed through the air on its way to the cylinder.

After the sound of the ball swishing through the net, the home crowd erupted as the Spartans defeated the Trojans in double overtime nail-biter 60-59.

Barber finished with a game-high 24 points while teammates Owen Reed and Austin Faulkner each ended the night in double figures for the Spartans.