Boys Basketball: Leo holds off Hales in overtime

Updated: January 10, 2012 10:00PM

Leo is on a roll. The Lions won their fifth straight game but it didn’t come easy. The smallest man on the floor stood up tall all game as Leo prevailed over host Hales 69-65 in a Catholic League crossover game that was settled in overtime.

“Tybias (Scott) played really well,” Lions coach Noah Cannon said. “As a team we are playing with much more confidence because we have everyone healthy.”

Scott stands 5-8 tall but makes up for his size with quickness and great ball-handling skills. His talents showed up when the game was on the line when he first setup Russell Woods with a beautiful blind, bounce-pass for a slam dunk. That basket came with 46 seconds left in overtime for a 65-63 lead that put the Lions (9-6) ahead for good. It was also Scott’s 11th assist of the game.

“Me and Russell work on it in practice so much that I know where he’s going to be all the time,” Scott said. “I have a photographic memory in the back of my mind where he’s going to be.”

Scott followed that play with a steal and was fouled going for the basket. The senior guard calmly stepped up to make both of his free throws. He later scored a layup for the final score giving him 13 points.

“I saw that pass coming all the way,” Scott said. “I just went for the pick and got it.”

The Lions win offset a valiant second-half effort from Eddie Alcantara. The 6-6, guard scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half. He shot 9-for-11 in the that half and pulled down 15 rebounds for the game. He was joined in double figures by Niji Lomax with 16 points. The two combined to score all eight of Hales (6-9) overtime points.

Woods finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. Woods tied the game up at 57 in regulation with a slam dunk off a Scott feed with 14 seconds remaining. Sean Moore, Jr. added 17 for the Lions.

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