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Clutch Free Throws Lift Devils In Overtime

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park's Avierre Conner goes up strong to the hoop against Tampa Catholic's David Gonzalez during the final game of the Bill Jarrett Tip-Off Classic on Friday.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: November 23, 2008

AVON PARK - Avierre Conner couldn't buy a free throw, much less sink one, during regulation on Friday, and when he went to line with the game on the line in overtime, the AP sophomore wasn't sure it was his night.

"I know how to knock down free throws, but I couldn't hit one to save my life during regulation," Conner said. "So I just tried to calm down and forget about the previous shots and just let it fly."

Conner found nothing but net in the extra period, as he went 6 for 6 from the charity stripe during overtime to lift Avon Park to a 57-52 victory over Tampa Catholic during the final game of the Bill Jarrett Tip-Off Classic.

The Red Devils, who trailed by as many as 15 points, erased a seven-point fourth quarter deficit by finding their big men in the middle - center Cleveland Nobles and forward Alonzo Robertson - who scored 10 of AP's 12 points in the quarter, while holding the Crusaders to just six points to tie the game at 45 with 28 seconds left.

Nobles had a chance to end the game in regulation after putting back a missed shot, but the ball rimmed out and the game went to an extra frame.

In overtime, Xavier Caldwell and Conner hit back-to-back jumpers to give the Red Devils a four-point advantage, but Tampa Catholic's David Gonzalez drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut the lead to one.

That's when Conner, who finished with 14 points - eight in overtime - used his quickness to drive to the basket and was sent to the free throw line, where he sealed the win with a pair with 4.8 seconds left.

AP head coach Luther Clemons acknowledged his team's struggles from the free throw line, but stressed that this won't be the norm for his team this season.

"They're better than they showed tonight from the free throw line," Clemons said. "You have to understand that we've got several players, who were on the football field last Friday and have had only three days of practice. I'm extremely proud of them the way they battled back tonight.

"They'll only get better with every game they play."

Freshman Reggie Baker started the game at point guard and was impressive in his season debut, scoring all six of his points in the first half and had several crisp passes that led to easy baskets for the Red Devils.

"Reggie has really been turning heads in practice," Nobles said. "He knows how to play and all he needs is some experience and he's going to literally take over games in a couple of years."

After trailing 14-8 after the first quarter, Avon Park's shots stopped falling, as Tampa Catholic's defense clamped down on the entry passes to Nobles and Robertson and forced AP into shooting jump shots or bad passes. The Red Devils scored just eight points in the quarter, as the Crusaders built a 13-point lead at halftime.

Conner said that Coach Clemons let them know that "we're better than what you're showing on the court" and the team came out with a sense of urgency in the second half.

"Coach talked some sense into us and told us to calm down and work the ball to the open man," Conner said. "I think we took them too lightly coming into the game, but we showed that we can fight our way back."

Avon Park chipped away at the lead in the third, as Conner hit a three pointer to force the defense away from the middle, which allowed the Red Devils to find Nobles and Robertson down low.

Gonzalez was Tampa Catholic's main offensive weapon, as the forward scored a game-high 21 points, including four 3-pointers on the night.

"We had no answer for Gonzalez," Clemons said. "That kid wasn't missing from anywhere on the floor. He's the reason they built such a big lead on us and almost stole this game from us.

"We had to force the ball out of his hands and let our interior defense not let them get to the basket."

The high point of the quarter came when guard Derrick McKenzie found a streaking Robertson, who emphatically dunked on Tampa Catholic center James St. Marc to get the fans on their feet.

The Red Devils doubled their point total in the third, and trailed 39-32 heading into the fourth.

Tampa Catholic's Ian Ham finished with 11 points and St. Marc had 10 points, while Robertson chipped in nine points for Avon Park, which is back on the court at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Lake Placid.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com

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