Just two weeks ago, the Stivers boys’ basketball team earned a convincing 20-point win over the Bethel Bees. When they drew a bye in the sectional tournament, they eyed a chance at revenge should Stivers advance to that point.
The entire 32 minutes was a dogfight for both teams last week, and it came down to the final two free throws from Caleb South with 9.0 seconds left, giving the Bees a hard-fought 61-56 victory over the Tigers.
Not only did the Bees get their revenge, more importantly, they advanced to the sectional championship game against West Liberty Salem.
Ironically, Stivers had the largest lead of the game at 10-3 minutes into the game as Isiah Williams and Andre Hawes put the Tigers up early, but once the Bees caught them, the game was no more than a two possession game for the rest of the night.
South, who led all scorers with 30 points started the early comeback with a drive to the rim, something he controlled all night. Once Tyler Terry hit a pair of free throws and a big three from Ian Anderson with 1:59 left in the opening quarter, the Bees took their first lead of the game at 11-10.
South dominated the first half, as he scored 20 points in the first 16 minutes, including the first five to start the second quarter, as Bethel took a 19-13 lead just two minutes into the period.
Hawes quickly answered with a three of his own, but South was not to be denied. He scored all 11 of the Bees points in the second quarter, and they clung to a 25-24 lead at the half.
The second half continued to see both teams battle as Bethel broke a 31-31 tie with a 5-0 run as Tyler Terry scored on a three-point play, and South hit a pair of free throws. Stivers kept it close and cut it to 38-37 on a tip with 10 seconds left, but a layup from Terry at the buzzer sent the Bees into the fourth period with a 40-37 lead.
Stivers tied the game at 45, the first of five more ties in the fourth period. Their last was 53-53 with 1:49 left when Hawes scored on a layup, but the Bees used two free throws from Terry when Williams fouled out with 1:40 left, giving the Bees the lead for good.
In the final minute, the Bees were 5-8 from the free throw line to hang on for the win.
*On Saturday night in the sectional finals, the Bees used a big second half performance from South to lead them to a 61-57 victory over West Liberty Salem, sending the Bees into the district finals tonight at UD Arena at 6 p.m. against Purcell Marian. South scored 33 points, including 22 in the second half. Ian Anderson added 15 for the Bees.