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Kobe Roberson goes up for a layup in their 66-62 loss to Avery in the Bi-District round on Tuesday. Staff photo by Tyler Lennon
Roberson leads team with 26 points
PARIS — The Miller Grove Hornets traveled to Paris High School Tuesday to face Avery in the Bi-District round of the playoffs.
The game started with neither team making a basket in the opening two minutes, but Avery opened the flood gates when they knocked down a 3-pointer. Isaiah Billingsley was able to answer back on the next possession with a 3-pointer of his own, and Kobe Roberson followed him with another one to give the Hornets a 6-3 lead. It was a completive opening frame, and the Hornets led, 12-9, entering the second quarter.
Avery started the second quarter, scoring on the opening possession, but Roberson answered back with a layup and a 3-pointer to push the Hornets lead to 17-11. In a quarter that was largely led by strong defense, Avery was able to narrow the gap to 19-17 with 1:40 remaining in the half.
In the final minute and a half in the frame, Roberson scored on a pair of layups to give the Hornets a 24-20 with just 15 seconds left. Avery went down the court and knocked down a 3-pointer in the final seconds. The Hornets lead was cut down to 24-23 at the half.
The Hornets started the second half on fire, opening with a 7-0 run that was sparked by a Lexton Sly 3-pointer. The rest of the frame saw the two teams trade baskets.
In the final minute of the quarter, Roberson knocked down a pair of free throws, and the Hornets led, 37-29, at the end of the quarter.
Avery opened the fourth quarter with a 12-4 run that forced Miller Grove to call a timeout with the game tied at 41-41 with 4:42 remaining. With the Hornets trailing, 50-47, Matt Brignon knocked down a 3-pointer with just 17 seconds left on the clock, which forced the game into overtime.
Avery opened with a 5-0 run, and the Hornets were forced to play from behind for the remainder of the game.
Despite a strong showing, Miller Grove lost, 66-62.
Roberson was the leading scorer for the Hornets, finishing with 26 points, 15 of which came in the first half. Brignon also finished in double-digits, scoring 12 points. Other scorers for Miller Grove were Tanner Hensley, who had 8 points; Lexton Sly, 7; Billingsley, 5; Jacob George, 3; and Riley Hasten, 1.