This might have been the “Game of the Night”:Southwest Guilford Cowboys over West Forsyth in OT(It wasn’t easy, but SWG still Unbeaten)

*****Could be one of those early “Game of the Year” candidates….Southwest Guilford out-scores West Forsyth 15-7 to win the game in Overtime, 80-72…..*****

The Cowboys had the tough task of hosting the Titans of West Forsyth.

The Titans were looking to be the first team to knock off the unbeaten Cowboys, while Southwest was looking to keep their momentum going early this season. This game turned out to be a heavy weight bout. It was slow, sloppy, and ugly. Both teams opened the game with some sloppy possessions and play.

The Cowboys took the early lead at 2-0. On the ensuing Titans trip down a 3 pointer gave the visitors a lead that they would not relinquish until the very end of the quarter. The Titans continued to score while the Cowboys continued to turn the ball over and miss open shots until it was 9-2.

As bad as that was, the Cowboys finally got a couple of positive possessions together and ended the frame on a 10-3 run of their own to end the frame with the teams tied at 12.

Southwest kept the momentum but for only one possession; a made 3 pointer. The visitors went on another run taking an 18-17 lead. Southwest briefly led again at 19-18, at the 6:15 mark. The Titans once again responded and slowly built a lead going into the break up 35-26.

A conversation in the locker-room about sticking together and trust seemed to do the trick immediately out of the break. In just 15 seconds into the half, Southwest scored 5 straight to make it 35-30. But the Titans lived up to their moniker and hit a big 3 pointer to stop the storm at 38-30. By the 5:10 mark the lead had gotten up to 44-34. Southwest from there slowly chipped away. The lead was cut to 4 twice and ultimately a late 3 point play just before the buzzer but the lead down to 49-47 going into the final frame.

It was the Titans turn to open up a frame with a quick 3 pointer pushing the lead back to 52-47. West Forsyth got it to 56-49 just before the 6:00 mark. Every time the Cowboys would put a couple of baskets together it seemed like the Titans responded and kept the margin around 6.

With just 3:10 to play the Titans held a 62-55 lead and got the lead up to 65-57 with 2:30 to play. The Cowboys forced consecutive turnover and made back-to-back 3 pointers with the latter being a Keyshaun Langley bomb all the way from the middle school to erupt the crowd and put the game at 65-63 with 2 minutes to play. On the ensuing inbounds, the Titans lost control of the ball and the Cowboys could never quite seem to get a clean grip, but neither could the Titans. A hustling Orlando Smith was able to grab the ball while getting tackled at midcourt earning 2 free throws with 1:30 to play.

The Senior calmly swished both freebies to tie the ball game up for the first time in the second half at 65. Despite drawing a charge on the defensive end of the ball, the Titans held strong on their defensive side of the ball and didn’t allow the Cowboys a good look at the buzzer.

Extra Basketball.

Both teams started the extra period a little sloppy, but the home crowd soon erupted again due to a Cowboy forced turnover turned into a 3 point play giving the Cowboys a 68-65 lead with 3:35 to play. That basket gave the home team all the momentum they needed as they began to execute on both sides of the ball. Southwest went 13-15 in the extra session to pull away and hold serve on the season for a tough 80-72 win over the Titans.

West Forsyth was led by Maverick LaRue with 22 points. The Cowboys were led by Keyshaun Langley (24, 4 Rebs, 2 Stls), Kameron Langley (24, 8 Asts, 5 Rebs, 2 Stls) and Orlando Smith (17, 2 Rebs, 2 Chrgs).

The Cowboys will hit the road on Friday night to face the Whirlies of Grimsley to once again defend their unbeaten season.

                  1st  2nd  3rd  4th  OT  Final
W. Forsyth        12   23   14   16   07    72
Southwest         12   14   21   18   15    80

West Forsyth (1-4)
Darriel Brown 16
Dae Dae Myers 3
KJ Henry 18
Maverick LaRue 22
Nick Joyner 2
Mason Matney 6
Ben Uloko 5

Southwest (6-0)
Keyshaun Langley 24
Orlando Smith 17
Kobe Langley 6, 3 Stls, 3 Asts, 2 Rebs
Kameron Langley 24
Kaymon Mitchell 9, 3 Stls

*****Courtesy of Greg Vlazny*****