Payne reigns as Saxons win in 2 OTs
NORMANDY, Mo. - Schaumburg's Cully Payne has had many memorable moments on the basketball court, but few would compare to Saturday night at the Cricket Wireless Midwest Showdown at Normandy High.
Payne scored a game-high 39 points to lead Schaumburg past Francis Howell 83-80 in double overtime. In the process, Payne tapped in a dramatic, last-gasp inbounds pass at the end of regulation to send it to overtime, and he also hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the first overtime to prolong the game.
"I can't say that I've ever had a game like this," Payne said. "It was awesome, especially the atmosphere at the end. It was just great to play in."
Schaumburg improved to 8-0 overall. Howell, located 40 miles west of St. Louis, fell to 2-2.
Schaumburg trailed since late in the first quarter and trailed by as many as 11 in the third, but came back to tie it three separate times in the fourth.
Howell got a basket from Cody Sorenson with five seconds left to make it 61-59 and Payne's subsequent 3-point attempt was blocked out of bounds by Sorenson with :00.2 left. Justin Swiercz inbounded the ball and threw it towards the basket, where Payne tipped it in with no time left.
"Justin Swiercz threw a perfect pass and Josh Spandiary set a perfect screen to get Cully open," Schaumburg coach Bob Williams said.
Howell jumped out to a 70-66 lead with 22 seconds left in the first overtime. Perrish Bell cut it to 70-68 with a driving basket and Sorenson, who had made all five of his previous free throws, went 1-for-2 from the line to make it 71-68 Howell with seven seconds left. Somehow, Payne got open and hit the game-tying trey with one second left.
"I don't even know how to explain it," Bell said of Payne. "That was all heart."
Schaumburg iced the game from the free throw line in the second overtime. With four players - Swiercz, Bell, Spandiary and Declan Geraghty - fouled out and Payne playing with 4 fouls, the Saxons went 3-for-4 from the line in the second overtime, while Howell went just 4-for-9.
More importantly, the free throws came from Anthony Iannotti and Jerome Brantley, who came into the game due to the Saxons' foul troubles.
"I think our kids played with confidence," Williams said. "That's by design, but it doesn't always work out that way."
Aside from Payne, Bell scored 13 and Swiercz added 12.
Sorenson led Howell with 34 points. Camron Cathcart scored 31.