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Boys Basketball: Darius Paul’s free throw lifts Warren past Downers South
Updated: January 21, 2012 11:00PM
Free throws were not going Darius Paul’s way late in the game Saturday at the Sears Centre.
Warren’s star forward had missed four in a row before he found himself at the free-throw line, with no time left on the clock and the game in his hands.
‘‘I just had to make the first one,’’ Paul said. ‘‘If I missed the first, I knew I probably wouldn’t make the second.’’
Paul wasn’t worried about the cavernous Sears Centre background or the pressure.
‘‘I just look at the rim,’’ Paul said. ‘‘I’ve been in that situation before.’’
Paul’s shot was true on the first try, giving No. 8 Warren a 64-63 overtime win over No. 17 Downers South.
The game was tied at 63 when Downers South’s Danny Spinuzza lost the ball in the lane. JoVaughn Gaines picked it up and the Blue Devils (13-2) had a fast-break layup on the other end, missed by Mitch Munda. Paul grabbed the rebound and was fouled trying to shoot.
Paul finished with 26 points on 9-for-17 shooting from the field and 5-for-10 from the free-throw line, and added 12 rebounds.
‘‘My shot was just rolling out,’’ Paul said. ‘‘(On the game-winner) I shot the same shot and it went in.’’
Downers South star Jerron Wilbut fouled out with 3:16 left in overtime. He scored 20 and grabbed six rebounds. Senior Kevin Honn drained a three-pointer with 14 seconds to play to tie the score and send the game to overtime. Honn finished with 20 points and seven rebounds for Downers South (13-4).
Gaines scored 12, Toledo-bound center Nathan Boothe added eight points and 10 rebounds, and Jameris Smith had nine for Warren.
‘‘Kevin’s shot was huge,’’ Downers South coach Jay Baum said ‘‘We had our chances, it didn’t come down to the last shot. We had a play and a chance to win it.’’
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