Last Second Shot Victory For Blazers
The John Wood Blazers needed a win on Saturday, to keep their chances of hosting a home play in game alive. They would do that with a hard fought last second victory at a tough Mary Miller gym at Danville Area Community College.
The Trail Blazer would start out slow, but a basket by Freshman Akeem Akeredolu and Jordan Shelton gain a 11-9 advantage at the 11:09 mark in the first half. However, Danville Area would turn on the jets and score the next several baskets to gain a 28-16 lead with 5:09 left in the 1st half. A layup by Jordan Shelton and free throw from Joshua Talton would stop the bleeding some. Cacho Gianquinto would help give the Blazers some much needed points with a quick three from the top of the key, however Danville would prove to be to much and take a 35-23 lead into the halftime locker room meetings.
The second half would be a different turn of events for the Blazers, as they would use their grit and mentality to come back. A three pointer by freshman Nolan Dietrich from the right wing would cut he Jaguars lead to 43-31 with 12:05 left in the game. This would force Danville to make a quick lineup change, in hopes of finding a solution to the Blazers recent surge in energy.
However, Jordan Shelton and Joshua Talton would again strike to give the Blazers seven points in a minute and half and bring the deficit to just 48-45 with 6:18 left in the game. Danville would again make a lineup change; however John Wood would have an answer for that. Jordan Shelton and Sophomore Breiton Klingele would score eight points over the next three minutes to John Wood to a 57-55 deficit with 2:37 left in the game.
Jordan Shelton would strike again, this time with a pair of clutch free throws to bring the score tied 57-57 with 41 seconds left in the contest. John Wood would get the ball on a mis layup form Danville and again Shelton would capitalize to secure the Blazers 59-57 win on the road.
The Blazers will return home on Wednesday for the last two regular season games of the season. They welcome Lewis and Clark on Wednesday for a 7:30pm contest, and then welcome Region 24 rival Illinois Central College on Saturday for a 1:00pm contest. Saturday will also be the annual Sophomore Day for the Women's and Men's Basketball teams.