Free throws lift Palo Verde boys to win

Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference.

For Palo Verde’s boys basketball team Wednesday night, it came down to making free throws.

The Panthers shot 6-for-7 from the foul line after regulation, including 5-for-6 in the second extra period, to knock off visiting Cheyenne 83-79 in double overtime.

“Free throws are big,” Palo Verde coach Jermone Riley said. “Our guys stepped it up and knocked down the free throws, and when they were most important.”

The Panthers won their 11th in a row and haven’t lost to a Nevada team this season.

While Palo Verde (16-2, 12-0 Northwest League) was taking advantage of its opportunities at the line, Cheyenne was struggling. The Desert Shields (17-7, 10-3) were 4-for-10 from the line in the overtimes, including 2-for-7 in the first extra period.

Palo Verde came out quickly in the second overtime, getting two buckets from Drew Topham to take a 75-71 lead.

“In an overtime game you always want to control the first couple minutes,” Riley said. “If we can control the first minute, minute and a half of the (overtime), we’ll put ourselves in a position to win it.”

Freshman Eris Winder then broke down the defense and dished to an open Moses Morgan for a 3-pointer to make it 78-71 with 2:13 to go.

Cheyenne twice cut the lead to one in the last minute, first on a basket by Brian Organ with 43 seconds left and then on a bucket by Khalid Banks that made it 80-79 with 13 seconds to go.

Palo Verde’s Bronston Abad hit two free throws with 11.6 seconds left, and  Banks’ 3-point attempt rimmed out with about four seconds to play.

Palo Verde’s Delron Mims rebounded and hit one of two free throws for the final margin.

Topham had 22 points to lead Palo Verde. Morgan added 21 points and nine rebounds.

J’Quon Wroten led Cheyenne with 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists,  Organ added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaylen Henry had 14 points and 11 rebounds.