Titans drop heartbreaker

Just call this the one that got away.

The McDowell Titans had the unbeaten Freedom Patriots on the ropes Friday night at Titan Gym, but couldn’t deliver the knockout blow.

McDowell lost a 10-point, second-half lead, and then came up empty on two good looks at the basket in the closing seconds of a heartbreaking 65-62 loss.

The Titans (4-3) held the lead for most of the contest against a team that beat them by 17 in Morganton Dec. 1. But the Patriots (7-0) got some clutch free throws from Raymond Beam in the final seconds Friday to hold off the determined Titans.

Despite the defeat, it was a valiant attempt for a McDowell team that turned in a sub-par effort in a road loss to R-S Central earlier in the week.

“When we walked out of there (Central) Tuesday, it seemed like there was a lot that wasn’t right about our basketball team,” said Franklin. “I felt like we had a long way to go. But we’ve talked about a lot of things the last two days that I think have helped us turn the corner.

“I was disappointed Tuesday night with the way we played and our overall intensity. Tonight, I walk out of here disappointed that we lost, because of how hard we played and how they played together.”

McDowell got scoring from its backcourt and rebounding from its frontcourt.

Point guard Ethan Freeman (6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) scored a team-high 16, while wings Dalanta Rodriguez (4 rebounds, 3 assists) and Cedarius Avery (5 rebounds, 2 assists) added 15 and 14 respectively.

Meanwhile, Jared Helms (6 points) pulled 15 rebounds and Josh Pyatt (6 points) collected 10 boards.

But it wasn’t enough against a Patriots team that made 11 3-pointers, including six in the second half.

Darrion Evans (16 points), Khris Gardin (15) and Rob Noyes (14) led the way for the Patriots, who played without starter David Duckworth, who broke his wrist Wednesday night in an overtime win over Asheville High.

The Titans led 51-41 on a basket by Freeman late in the third quarter, but Freedom kept gunning 3’s and getting closer, eventually tying the game in the final minute.

Freeman’s driving layup with 1:07 to play gave the Titans the lead for the final time at 62-60.

Beam canned a pair of free throws to even the score at 62-62 with 49 seconds to go.

McDowell failed to convert on the ensuing possession, and Beam then made one of two foul shots for a 63-62 edge with 25 seconds to play.

After a timeout, the Titans got a great look at the basket, but Avery missed a layup and Freedom rebounded with 11 seconds left.

The Pats left the door open when Evans missed both ends of a two-shot foul with nine seconds to play. Helms pulled the rebound, but Beam swiped his outlet pass at midcourt and the Titans were forced to foul him.

Beam then made both shots with 4.9 seconds left for a 65-62 advantage, but McDowell had one last gasp when Rodriguez drove the length of the court and pulled up for an open 3-pointer. The shot wouldn’t go down.

“I’m so proud of those guys, the way they fought tonight, the way they battled the entire game,” said Franklin. “It came down to the last two minutes and a few plays, and we had some opportunities there, a couple of good looks, and just couldn’t convert.”

Franklin said Friday’s effort was a complete reversal of Tuesday’s.

“We’ve got a locker room full of kids who are really hurt right now that they lost, and I like that,” said Franklin. “I didn’t see that on Tuesday. I saw disappointment that we lost, but I didn’t see hurt. When it starts to mean something to you like that, that’s when you can do special things as a team.”

McDowell is on the road at East Burke Wednesday and hosts North Buncombe in the Mountain Athletic 4A/3A Conference opener next Friday.

Freedom (65) Khris Gardin 5-19 0-0 15, Darrion Evans 6-13 2-5 16, Raymond Beam 0-8 6-10 6, Rob Noyes 6-10 2-5 14, Chris Bridges 3-12 0-0 9, Jaylan Martin 0-2 0-0 0, Tyler Triplett 1-2 0-0 3, Daulton Caldwell 1-2 0-0 2, Jason Wilson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 22-69 10-20 65.

McDowell (62) Cedarius Avery 6-14 2-2 14, Jared Helms 3-6 0-3 6, Josh Pyatt 1-6 4-6 6, Dalanta Rodriguez 6-11 2-2 15, Ethan Freeman 6-17 3-4 16, Matt Carroll 0-1 0-0 0, Daniel Jackson 1-7 1-4 3, Johnny Cooper 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 24-63 12-21 63.

Freedom             17   14   14   20 – 65

McDowell           15   18   17   11 – 62

Rebounds: Freedom (34) McDowell (47) Rebound leaders: Freedom (Beam 10) McDowell (Helms 15, Pyatt 10) 3-point goals: Freedom (11-36) McDowell (3-12) Freedom (Gardin 5-17, Evans 2-7, Beam, Martin 0-1, Bridges 3-8, Triplett 1-2) McDowell (Freeman 1-3, Rodriguez 1-4, Avery 0-3, Pyatt 0-1, Cooper 1-1) McDowell assist leaders: (Freeman, Rodriguez, Carroll 3) McDowell steals leaders: (Freeman 2) McDowell blocked shot leaders: (Helms, Pyatt 2) Turnovers: Freedom (8) McDowell (16)