Boys Basketball: Reavis hangs on for victory

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Jubril Adekoya, Andrew

Updated: February 16, 2012 8:21AM

Back and forth. Up and down. A ridiculous fourth quarter.

A 15-point Reavis halftime lead vanished in half a quarter as Oak Forest came to life, but Eddie Puha got a chance at the free-throw line to help the Rams survive with a 49-47 South Suburban crossover win in Burbank.

“I’ve just got to make them,” Puha said. “We practice them every day as a team, just free throws.”

Puha made the first and missed the second but an Oak Forest line violation was called, giving the sophomore forward another shot. He drilled the second free throw to give Reavis a two-point lead with five seconds to go.

Oak Forest’s Blake Waller found Tom Shute in the corner with time winding down, but Shute’s three-point attempt at the buzzer hit the back iron and bounced away as time expired.

“It was a weird game, but we always tell the guys if we make a mistake, ‘Next play, next play,’ ” Reavis coach Jeff Smith said. “We can’t worry that they tied the game or hit a three. Just worry about the next play.”

Jorge Martinez (15 points), Nick Bal (13) and Puha (13) led Reavis (7-9, 2-4).

Tim Loeding had 20 points and T.J. Mayer added 13 for Oak Forest (8-8, 3-4).

Running a patient offense, Reavis led by double digits at halftime and 43-28 with 4:26 left in the fourth when Oak Forest’s offense clicked.

The Bengals charged back into the game, Mayer bombing away from the perimeter and Loeding scoring inside. Trailing 47-44, Oak Forest tied the game on a Loeding three-point play with only four Bengals on the court and 13 seconds to go.

With a chance to regain the lead, Puha was fouled on an inbounds pass and stepped to the free-throw line for the game-winner with five seconds to go.

“It’s tough,” Oak Forest coach Matt Manzke said. “We dug ourselves a hole, and Reavis wasn’t going to roll over. Good teams do it from the start.”