DANVILLE — It was all it was advertised to be.
For the second time this season, the Danville Blue Devils earned a tense, tight boys basketball win over Mount Gilead.
This time the Blue Devils took a 64-62 overtime victory in a thrilling Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference clash in Danville.
In the movie, “A League of Their Own,” coach Jimmy Dugan, portrayed by Tom Hanks, tells one of his players, “There’s no crying in baseball.” By the same token, there’s no shot clock in high school basketball.
With 1:30 remaining in regulation and the score knotted at 52-52, the visitors called timeout. For the next 90 seconds, Mount Gilead passed the ball in a scene reminiscent of the Harlem Globetrotters, working for one final shot or a foul.
But an errant pass under the Indians backboard sent the game into overtime.
“They’re an experienced team, kind of like us, they’re an older team,” explained Danville coach Matt Proper. “That’s why we work on defense.”
Danville and Mount Gilead could not have been more evenly matched going into Tuesday evening’s game. Each team boasted a 9-2 overall record with the Devils sporting a 6-2 KMAC mark and the Indians standing 4-2 in conference play.
On December 10, Danville squeaked past Mount Gilead 56-55. Prior to the Tuesday night slugfest, each team had averaged 63 points a game while Danville had yielded 45 points to their opponents and Mount Gilead giving up an average of 48 points per contest.
The first eight minutes was a foreshadowing of what was to come, as the lead changed hands until the Indians carried a 19-17 lead at the break. Things began to unravel a bit for the home team in the second stanza and the Indians led 36-27 at the intermission.
“I just felt our energy wasn’t matching theirs,” Proper said. “They played a little more physical on us, that was one of our goals so we had to switch it up a little bit.”
Apparently, the Blue Devils took their coach’s halftime directions to heart as they went on a 10-0 run to take a 46-45 lead late in the third period.
“Regardless of the outcome, as a coach, that is what you want from your team, I think they responded well,” the coach said. “After halftime, they came out more physical and with more energy.”
The coach then addressed the sixth and all-important player for the team.
“Momentum is a tricky thing in basketball, and once you get it, you do not want to give it up.”
In the second half, the score was tied five times, and there were seven lead changes. It triggered an enthusiastic atmosphere.
“Fans, on a weeknight, so many students, I am just glad everybody went to see Danville win. Go Blue!” Proper said.
Mount Gilead was led in scoring by senior Gage Baker who connected for 25 points. Senior Cole Fricke added 15 and Hayden Somerlot netted 10.
The Blue Devils had a more balanced scoring attack. Led by Junior Aiden Mickley who tallied 25 points, Parker Proper chipped in 10 points, the remaining 24 points were divided among five other players.
The Blue Devils will now host Centerburg at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, while Mount Gilead will travel to Northmor that night.
