Cheyenne boys sink free throws, nip Shadow Ridge

Cheyenne High’s boys basketball team needed a break.

The Desert Shields trailed 70-69 with less than 20 seconds to play when senior Khalid Banks made the key play of the game.

As Shadow Ridge tried to get the ball up the court against the Cheyenne press, Banks made a leaping attempt to break up a long pass toward midcourt.

Shadow Ridge’s David Everage was whistled for a foul going for the loose ball, and Banks knocked home two free throws with 13.7 seconds left. The Desert Shields held on for a 71-70 home win.

“That was a huge play in the middle,” Cheyenne coach Teral Fair said. “I do have to tip my hat to the kids for really stepping up and making plays late in the game. It’s a situation we haven’t been in all season.

“Hopefully this is going to buoy us to bigger and better things.”

Shadow Ridge (5-3, 1-2 Northwest League) had a final chance after Nick Flowers passed inside to Rodney Rainey, who was fouled with 2.5 seconds left.

But Rainey missed both free throws, and Cheyenne (9-4, 3-1) escaped.

Cheyenne sharpshooter Jamal Peterson was quiet in the middle quarters, but came alive in the fourth after Shadow Ridge had taken the lead.

The Mustangs led by as much as eight in the final period, but Peterson scored 13 of his 28 points in the final quarter to lead the comeback.

Peterson’s 3-pointer from the right wing with 24 seconds to play cut the lead to 70-69 and set up Banks’ go-ahead free throws.

Peterson, who had 13 points in the first quarter, was 5-for-8 on 3-pointers in the game.

“When he’s on, I don’t think there are many better kids in the valley shooting the basketball,” Fair said. “I think second only to him when he’s on is Khalid Banks. They’re sharing the ball and sharing that role. It’s great when you have two kids that can really fill it up.”

Banks finished with 15 points, and five assists, and Gary Stewart added 11 points and eight rebounds for Cheyenne, which led 20-7 after one quarter.

“The last few games, we’ve gone through dry spells offensively,” Fair said. “Our defense starts to suffer and our rebounding starts to suffer and we don’t make great decisions with the ball.

“When our offense is good, we’re good. When it’s not, we get a game like this.”

Malcolm Davis led Shadow Ridge with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Everage added 14 points and six rebounds, and Will Martin had 13 points and seven boards for the Mustangs.