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Sunnyvale unable to complete upset bid as Ponder prevails in double overtime
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
After four quarters and an overtime, Sunnyvale finally appeared to have Ponder right where it wanted them.
In a game full of dramatic momentum swings and big moments, the Raiders forced a second overtime when Josh Quinn hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 51-51.
Also in Sunnyvale's favor was that Ponder's Clay Morgan, who had been nearly unstoppable with 31 points, had just picked up his fifth foul, taking 60 percent of his team's offense to the bench with him.
It was a disappointing end to a thriller of a game as Sunnyvale had its chances to knock off its state-ranked opponent.
The Raiders led 44-41 with 1:44 left after a layup by Stephen Kirven, who had a team-high 17 points.
Morgan drew Ponder back to within a point with a layup on the next possession, and then following a pair of missed free throws, he gave them a 45-44 lead with just 18 seconds left.
Sunnyvale turned the ball over, but Casey Crenshaw was then able to make a steal and was fouled with 5.9 seconds left. Crenshaw knocked down one to send the game to overtime tied at 45-45.
Ponder edged ahead 51-47 in the extra period behind four points from Morgan and a jumper by Grant Boxell.
But the Raiders refused to go away, as Thomas Wendt knocked down jumper and Quinn hit his two free throws with 28 seconds left to send the game to a second overtime.
With Morgan on the bench, new heroes emerged for the Lions during the final four minutes. Brady Anderson scored and after Quinn made one at the free throw line, Boxell knocked down a shot and then hit two from the charity stripe to make it 57-52 with 1:09 left.
Sunnyvale had its chances in the final seconds, but a free throw from Ryan Cottingame was all it could manage, as they missed two shots and turned the ball over as Ponder held on for the win.
The Raiders entered the game as the underdog and fell behind 9-3 early on before a pair of 3-pointers by Lawson Ayo keyed a 8-0 run to give them the lead.
It stayed close throughout the second quarter, with Wendt, who had 13 points and seven rebounds, getting inside for a bucket that gave Sunnyvale a 17-16 lead.
The Lions regained the advantage in the third and were up 28-25 when Kirven knocked down a trey and Wendt scored twice to give the Raiders a 30-28 edge at the end of three.
It would stay close from that point, with neither team leading by more than four until Ponder finally made its move in the second overtime.
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