In a playoff contest that saw 9 lead changes with no team's having more than a 5-point lead in regulation, the MUS varsity basketball season ended last evening as the Owls fell to Montgomery Bell Academy in the first round of the Division II-AA state playoffs in overtime, 64-63. The Owls end their year at 16-8, 2-2 in their division.

The hosts started well as they built an early 5-0 lead behind senior Ehi Ataga's lay-up and senior Bo Echols's corner three-pointer. The Big Red tied the score later in the quarter at 5 before senior Montgomery Griffin hit a three-pointer to give the Owls the 8-5 lead through quarter one.

The close tilt continued through the second quarter as the Owls briefly held a 5-point lead, but for most of the stanza, no team had more than a one-possession advantage. Three-pointers from senior Miller Griesbeck, senior Kendon Leakes, and Echols buoyed the Owls, but MBA made 3 three-pointers themselves and 5 free throws to stay close. At the half, the Owls held the 24-23 advantage.

The second half followed the same script as the Owls looked for ways to exploit a variety of zone defenses from MBA. And as they have much of the season, the Owls found success going inside first. Ataga's 5 points in the third quarter and a three-pointer from Griesbeck allowed the Owls to maintain their one-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

The final quarter saw four lead changes and five tied scores as neither team could pull away. And the game eventually became a free-throw contest as both teams attacked the basket. Echols scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter, and his layup from Griesbeck with 1:17 left gave the Owls a 5-point lead at 47-42. The hosts still led, 50-47, following a Leakes's free throw with 47.2 seconds remaining, but the Owls were called for a foul on a three-point shooter with 6.4 seconds left, and the MBA guard made all three. Echols's last-second heave from 24-feet was just long as the game went to overtime at 50-50.

In the extra period, the Big Red (18-9) built a 7-point advantage at 59-52, but the Owls did not quit. Another Echols's layup and an Ataga free throw and dunk closed the gap to 3 at 60-57 with 38.5 seconds left, but MBA continued to make their free throws. 

Down 6, Griffin hit a three-pointer with 8.5 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 63-60, but after a foul, MBA hit one of two free throws to increase the lead to 4. A last-second three-point heave from sophomore Levi Johnson made the score 64-63, but time elapsed on the game and the season.

Echols led the team in scoring with 24 points, and he added 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. Ataga contributed 14 points, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals, and Leakes had 9 points and 5 assists.

Unfortunately, with the loss, the Owls say goodbye to 7 senior players and 1 senior manager who have all played vital roles in the program during their careers. They will be missed.

#GoOwls