BELLEFONTE – Mount Pleasant stayed close to Brandywine most of the afternoon during Tuesday's Blue Hen Conference Flight B showdown, tying the game at 44 and taking the lead on its next possession on successive baskets by Da'Ron Lawrence. A minute remained in regulation, and the partisan Mount Pleasant crowd was sensing a come-from-behind win.
Brandywine had other ideas, however, as Ra'Shawn Wright hit two free throws with 50.5 seconds to go to make it 46-46, sending the game to overtime. The Bulldogs jumped out to a five-point lead in the extra session, holding on for a 54-52 road victory.
The Green Knights were not about to give up after falling behind, 51-46. Having been shut out for the first three minutes of the four-minute overtime period, Mount Pleasant got to within two points on a three-pointer from Jermaine Booker. Two free throws by Brandywine's Seth Hackett extended the Bulldogs' lead to four as the clock wound down to about 10 seconds left. Booker struck again, this time nailing a 25-foot bank shot trey that pulled the hosts to within one at 53-52.
Mount Pleasant then fouled Jordan Johnson on the inbounds play, stopping the clock with nearly four seconds to go. After hitting the first free throw, Johnson missed the second. Lawrence grabbed the rebound and dribbled the length of the floor, letting go of a leaning six-footer as the clock expired. The ball hit the backboard and the side of the rim, falling to the floor and ending the game.
The game was close throughout, with Brandywine leading by one at the half and again at the end of the third quarter. The shooting and passing were not at their sharpest, but the run-and-gun style, long pass attempts and tight defense made it an enjoyable contest to watch. The biggest lead of the day was six by Brandywine, at 34-28, but the Green Knights scored seven of the next nine points to make the deficit just one at halftime.
Booker's two three-pointers in overtime gave him a game-high 22 points. He also added two highlight-worthy points on a steal and big dunk at the end of the first half. Mount's only other double-digit scorer was Damiere Holland, who had 14. The Green Knights, who fell to 8-7, look to return to the win column Thursday when they travel to Howard for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
Brandywine improved to 11-5 with its fourth win in the last five games. The team was led by Hackett, who tallied 18; Wright added 12 and Johnson 11. The Bulldogs' next foe is St. Georges Tech, which visits Thursday at 5:30 on Senior Night for the Bulldogs.
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