By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Hayden's boys basketball team had some close calls this season and had another nail-biter Friday night, falling to Emporia in overtime, 52-51, at Hayden.
Hayden fell to 1-6 overall and 1-6 in the Centennial League with its second overtime defeat of the season while Emporia picked up its first victory, improving to 1-8, 1-7.
“I thought we played hard,'' Hayden coach Dwayne Paul said. "Emporia is a hard team to play and they were more disciplined than us.''
Hayden's Jake Muller guards Emporia's Spencer Stewart during the Spartans' 51-51 overtime win at Hayden. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
In the first quarter, the shooting was cold as ice, and the defense was strong from both teams.
Emporia led 11-6 at the end of the opening quarter, but Hayden used an 18-13 edge in the second quarter to tie the game at the half, 24-24.
The Wildcats scored more points in the first 1:51 in the second quarter than they did the entire first quarter. Hayden forced the Spartans to call a timeout after going on an 8-0 run provided by eight straight points by senior Trent Duffey.
Hayden’s solid defense continued in the second quarter. The Wildcats held the Spartans to a single point for nearly half of the quarter.
While things were clicking for the Wildcats, the Spartans would fight back. At one point in the second quarter, the Wildcats held a nine-point lead, but Emporia’s Parker Leeds’ six points in the quarter along with Jacob Ortega’s four would tie the game up, making things much more interesting.
Hayden would knock down four 3-pointers in the second half, while also converting shots in the paint, but they wouldn’t run away from Emporia due to struggles from the free throw line.
“We had a lot of unnecessary fouls. The game was won and lost by free throws. We go 7-14 from the line and they go 19-29. That’s the game,” Paul said.
Coach Dwayne Paul talks to his Hayden team during a time out in overtime. The Wildcats dropped a 52-51 decision to Emporia. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
The missed opportunities from the free throw line would be a factor in the loss, but Hayden still had a shot to right the wrong and get the win in overtime.
The focus for Hayden was feeding the ball inside to junior Joe Otting. Otting, who had 19 points on the night, fouled out early in overtime which was an enormous loss for the Wildcats.
Emporia's Leeds hit a 3-point shot to put the Spartans in front, but Hayden’s Jacob Padilla answered with a 3-pointer of his own to tie the game up.
Emporia would draw a crucial foul with just a few seconds left to send Spencer Stewart to the line. Stewart would knock down both of his free throws.
Hayden was not able to come back from that, as the Wildcats heaved up a shot from the midcourt logo that did not go in at the buzzer.
“Emporia is a tough team,'' Paul said. "Parker Leeds, who is an all-league player, made a huge 3 from the wing when we were down by one. After that, we were tired of chasing them (Emporia) around, but they were tired of chasing us as well. They (Emporia) were more physical and mentally tough.
“Right now we aren’t a very tough team. I think we play hard. I know we guard fairly well. But we have to have both mental and physical toughness to go with discipline. Right now we aren’t playing at our best.''
Hayden will compete in the Topeka Invitational Tournament at Highland Park next week, facing Wichita Northwest in the first round on Thursday.
EMPORIA BOYS 52, HAYDEN 51 (OT)
Emporia 11 13 10 12 6 – 52
Hayden 6 18 13 9 5 – 51
Hayden (1-6, 1-6) – Otting 8 3-9 19, Duffey 5 1-1 14, Padilla 3 1-2 10, Mueller 1 0-0, 3, Rice 1 0-0 3, Ham 0 2-2 2.
Emporia (1-8, 1-7) – Leeds 7 1-4, 16, Stewart 2 7-8 11, Peters 1 8-12 10, Ortega 2 2-3 6, Rech 3 0-2 6, Cooper 1 0-0 2.
3-point goals – Hayden 8, Emporia 1. Total fouls – Hayden 20, Emporia 16. Fouled out – Otting.
