Cave Spring holds on for 60-52 triumph over William Byrd

William Byrd junior guard Marvey’o Otey goes to the basket as Cave Spring’s Terrell Simmons looks for the block from behind.

In late November, the first matchup between Cave Sping and William Byrd saw the Knights claw their way to an overtime win in the Terrier gym.

Last Friday night’s rematch at Cave Spring looked to be heading in the same direction after the Knights saw Byrd come back from a 19-point third quarter deficit to cut the Cave Spring lead to two late in the fourth.

“We threw the ball away and missed four layups in that stretch,” Cave Spring head coach Billy Hicks noted afterward in the Knight locker room. “I had heartburn from trying to find a rotation that would stop the turnovers.”

Early on it was all Cave Spring. The Knights jumped out to a quick 12-2 lead, and when Jordan Bryant rattled home a pair of free throws with 5 seconds left in the first half, Cave Spring went to the break with their largest lead to that point, 31-17.

The play got chippy in the third quarter, with both teams running the court. The Terriers closed the gap to 48-44 before Cave Spring’s Cager Hicks connected on both ends of a pair of one-and-on free throw opportunities that restored the Knight advantage to 52-46.

Byrd got to within 52-50 and had possession for the potential lead in the final two minutes before Cave Spring picked up its defense and hit eight free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Terrell Simmons led Cave Spring with 10 points, among an attack that saw 11 Knights hit the scoring column. Zac Hill led Byrd with a game-high 13 points, while Marvey’o Otey and Koty Collier each hit double figures for the Terriers, both with eleven.

“We hit the big free throws late in the game and 17-of-22 overall,” Hicks added. “I was looking for my Secret-Service team in that second half. The ball is the president; I needed five guys to protect it.”

BILL TURNER game story/photos

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