Sycamore trips up Burlington Central

The chances were there for the Burlington Central boys basketball team Saturday.

The Rockets just couldn't take advantage, falling to Sycamore, 78-74, in two overtimes in a nonconference game at Central.

"We had plenty of chances," Central coach Brett Porto said. "When you don't hit free throws down at end, it usually comes back to bite you."

Central (7-10) rallied from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit and eventually took a 1-point lead, 60-59, with 2:30 left in the regulation. Central's Tim Sullivan hit a high-arcing 3-pointer from the right corner to tie the game, 69-69, with 1:09 left in the fourth.

After a missed shot from Sycamore's Sam Ford, the Rockets held the ball for the final 57 seconds, but never got a shot off.

"We wanted something to throw into the high post or the corner," Porto said. "We just didn't get it done."

The Rockets held a 1-point lead in the first overtime with 2:04 to go, but Ray Hunnicutt missed the frond end of a 1-and-1. . Sam Klein then had a chance to give the Rockets the lead with 22 seconds remaining in the first overtime, but also missed the front end of a 1-and-1.

This time the Spartans (9-9) couldn't get a good shot off, forcing a second overtime.

Klein hit a 3-pointer a minute into the second overtime to give Central a 72-69 lead, but the Rockets would score only two more points, both coming on free throws in the final 26 seconds.

Sycamore went 7-for-7 from the free-throw line in second overtime for the win.

"A lot of missed opportunities," Klein said. "We weren't as intense as we normally are. At home, usually we're real intense. We just didn't have it."

Ford finished with a game-high 30 points and 14 rebounds for the Spartans. Harlan Johnson added 14 and Josh Reed had 11.

Klein led the Rockets with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Hunnicutt finished with 16 points and Matt McCurdy had 13, 10 in the first half.