Atlantic City ousts Lenape in OT

Stop the clock and ask an Atlantic City boys' basketball player to take an uncontested shot from 15 feet, and that's usually a good situation for the other team.

Not Thursday night.

"We've been horrible at free-throw shooting," Atlantic City senior guard Martel Johnson said. "But we've been working on it a lot in practice."

Atlantic City hit free throws down the stretch and made big defensive stops en route to a 47-44 victory over host Lenape in overtime in the South Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals.

With Lenape's boisterous student section stomping and screaming, Johnson forced overtime with a free throw with seven seconds remaining in regulation, then was 3 for 4 from the line in the extra session.

Senior Keyshawn Reynolds was 4 for 4 from the line in overtime as fifth-seeded Atlantic City (21-5) won for the 16th time in 17 games and advanced to play at top-seeded Eastern in the sectional semifinals at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Arkemus Baskerville scored 18 and Avery Brown added 16 for fourth-seeded Lenape (19-9).

"I was really happy with our defensive effort," Lenape coach Chuck Guittar said. "We did exactly what we needed to do.

"Offensively, we struggled a little. They got up on us with a good man-to-man defense, and we got a little impatient at times."

It was taut game between physical teams that played tight defense on every possession. Neither was able to build a lead of more than four points over 36 minutes.

In overtime, Atlantic City forged ahead as sophomore Isaiah Graves scored on a drive and Johnson made two free throws. Graves, a 6-0 guard, scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

"We needed offense, and the kid provided it," Atlantic City coach Gene Allen said. "I've been tough on him because I haven't been happy with his defense. But in a game like this, we needed offense."

Lenape closed to within 42-41 on two free throws by Baskerville with 44 seconds left and within 44-42 on a free throw by Brown with 0:24 to go.

But each time, Reynolds responded by knocking down two free throws. For the game, Atlantic City was 17 for 23 from the foul line, including 8 for 10 in overtime.

Lenape held a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter and had four opportunities to extend its advantage. But the Indians missed two free throws and committed three turnovers.

"That was big," Guittar said. "We had an assortment of things go wrong."

Lenape still had a 31-27 lead after Brown made two free throws with 2:41 remaining in regulation. But Kashawn Dunston hit a three-pointer from the corner and Graves knocked down two free throws to give Atlantic City a 32-31 lead with 1:44 left.

Dunston made it 34-31 with two free throws with 0:50 remaining, but Baskerville made two free throws and Brown scored on a drive with 18 seconds left as Lenape took a 35-34 lead.

Johnson missed one free throw with seven seconds to play, but after a timeout, the senior made the next one to force overtime.

"No way I was missing that one," he said.

Atlantic City   8 7 6 14 12 – 47

Lenape   8 9 7 11 9 – 44

AC: Kashawn Dunston 14, Dayashawn Reynolds 2, Martel Johnson 4, Jahleem Montague 6, Ga-briel Chandler 4, Keyshawn Reynolds 6, Isaiah Graves 11.

L: Kyle Robostello 3, Evan Ward 2, Sawyer Hand 2, Tabu Gaither 3, Avery Brown 16, Arkemus Baskerville 18.