GOOD HOPE – It has been almost two years since the Good Hope Raiders last won over Cold Springs, which happened to be on a game-winning shot by Alex Cofer. Tonight, same story for Good Hope. In what was a close game throughout the night, Isaac McDonald was the hero as he drilled a three at the buzzer to give the Raiders a 42-39 win.
From the opening tip, Cold Springs seemed to be a step quicker on both sides than Good Hope as they jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead behind four points from Hunter McClendon and three from Blake Wood. The Raiders finally got on the scoreboard on a Kallen Sharpton put back basket with a little more than half the quarter done. But McClendon and Wood helped keep the lead for the Eagles as they scored all 10 of their points in the quarter and they held onto a 10-6 lead after one.
The second quarter started out great for the Raiders as Matt Cofer scored his first points of the game to cut the lead to two, then McDonald hit a three to give them an 11-10 lead. They stretched the lead to 18-12 before Cold Springs finished the quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 21-18 lead at the half.
Blake Wood pushed their lead to 24-20 after completing a three-point play. Layups by Jesse Lee and McClendon increased their lead to 28-20. Big offensive rebounds by Matt Dixon and Cohen White helped cut into the lead and Cofer cut into the deficit even more as they trailed by just three, 28-25, after three.
Blake Lyle tied the game at 28 on a huge three off a Cofer assist. There were several more ties in the final quarter as each team looked for that game-changing play to get momentum. After Cofer tied the game on a reverse layup off a Lyle missed free throw, he threw a nice pass to Mason Moniz, who laid it in to give the Raiders a 37-35 lead with 3:18 remaining in the game. After Lee tied the game, Lyle hit a floater from the left side to give his team the lead once again. Wood and McClendon each split their free throws to tie the game at 39, setting the stage for McDonald's heroics.
With 10.1 seconds left in the game, Lyle got the ball, then he drove and stopped, and found Cofer at the top of the key. He found McDonald to his right, and he hit the biggest shot of the game to give the Raiders a huge win.
"Matt just threw me a dime and I shot it and it went in." McDonald said. "I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates. They kept finding me all night."
McDonald knew this team had not beaten Cold Springs in a while, so this win was huge for him and the team.
"This win was huge for us, not only record-wise, but in the county seeding."
McDonald finished with 14 on the night for Good Hope. Cofer ended up with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. Lyle finished with eight points and two steals. They improve to 11-4 on the season.
"This was a huge win for these guys to help build their confidence," Good Hope coach Drew Adams said. "We have to enjoy our holiday break, but we have to be careful not to be complacent and to stay hungry."
McClendon led Cold Springs with 15 points. Wood ended up with 10 and Lee finished with nine. Cold Springs falls to 7-7 on the season. They will be a part of the West Point Christmas Tournament the day after Christmas.
Cold Springs 67, Good Hope 36 (Girls)
No. 4 Cold Springs pulled away after a close first quarter against Good Hope to stay undefeated on the season at 13-0.
After leading 13-8 after one, the Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Raiders, 23-7, in the second quarter to take a 36-15 lead at the half and they led 57-28 after three en route to another easy win.
Camryn Crider lit up the scoreboard for a game-high 27 points to lead Cold Springs. Elizabeth Lee finished with 17 and Emme Willoughby had eight. They will play in the West Morgan Christmas Classic on Dec. 28.
Kate Kent led Good Hope with 11 points. Sadie Abbott finished with eight. Leyton Seal and Erika Woodall each had seven. They fall to 6-8 on the season. They will play in the Hayden Christmas Classic on the day after Christmas against Mortimer Jordan at 5:30 p.m.
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