‘Epic game’ goes four OTs

Bret Walter is in his 19th season as the Faith Lutheran boys basketball coach and has been involved in hundreds of games during his career.

But he hasn't seen anything like what happened Thursday.

"I'll never forget this game," Walter said.

Bryce Neagle scored a key basket with 26 seconds remaining, and Jaylen Fox hit four free throws in the final 1:04 of the fourth overtime as the visiting Crusaders outlasted Cheyenne 97-89 to remain in first place in the Division I-A Sunset League.

"(Cheyenne) coach (Teral) Fair and I before the game were talking, and we said every time since we started playing Cheyenne, it is a battle and it's great games," Walter said. "And this one was the epic game of all of them so far. His kids didn't quit, either. You don't want anybody to have to lose this game."

Zach Friel led Faith Lutheran (17-5, 10-1 Sunset) with 28 points and added 13 rebounds, and teammate Elijah Kothe finished with 20 points and 14 boards.

The Crusaders opened up leads at the beginning of all four extra periods before finally putting away Cheyenne (14-5, 7-4). Kothe and Luke Bergen hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the fourth overtime before a long 3-pointer by the Desert Shields' Alahjan Banks cut Faith Lutheran's lead to 91-89 with 58 seconds remaining.

Fox went one-for-two at the line with 46.6 seconds left, but Neagle tracked down the offensive rebound after Fox missed the second attempt. Neagle then converted inside after Bergen penetrated and found him underneath the basket for a 94-89 lead.

Fox had 14 points, seven assists and four steals, and Neagle came up with 11 points and nine rebounds to ensure the Crusaders didn't miss a beat after Friel fouled out with 1:32 left in the fourth overtime.

Blake Bell scored all 13 of his points after halftime for Faith Lutheran, including seven points in the second overtime.

"We got rattled just a little bit at the end of regulation," Walter said. "We wanted our guys to be aggressive but make good decisions at the same time. Finally, obviously we got the best execution at the end of the fourth (overtime) is why we got the lead."

William Moore had 27 points and 12 rebounds for Cheyenne, which went 28-for-39 at the free-throw line. Dewayne Alexander added 20 points and nine rebounds, while Banks and Kavon Williams each scored 19.

Faith Lutheran shot 53.3 percent from the field in the first half and led 38-29 at the break. Friel knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:18 remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Crusaders on top 61-54 before a dramatic end to regulation.

Alexander's steal and breakaway dunk gave the Desert Shields a 62-61 lead with 42 seconds left, and after Kothe's putback basket on the ensuing possession gave Faith Lutheran a one-point lead, Williams made one of two at the foul line with 7.6 seconds to go to send the game into overtime.

In the first OT, Alexander had a chance to win the game from the free-throw line with 1.3 seconds but went one-for-two to tie the score at 67.

Faith Lutheran trailed 83-81 in the third overtime after three late turnovers, but Neagle tied the game with 46 seconds left, and the Crusaders came up with a defensive stop on Cheyenne's final possession.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ