Eufaula boys can't capitalize on late opportunities

The Eufaula boys have spent the last two weeks on the edge.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, they got a little too close last week. On Friday, they dropped their second one-point decision in as many outings after falling to area foe Charles Henderson 57-56 on Senior Night.

The loss was especially painful for the Tigers (14-9, 4-2), whose last five games have been decided by six or fewer points. Eufaula could have clinched a share of the area crown by defeating the Trojans. Instead, the Tigers will finish second in the area to Rehobeth, which also defeated Eufaula by one point last week. The losses kept Eufaula from hosting the area tournament.

The Tigers had two possessions to score the winning points on Friday. But they failed to convert a one-and-one opportunity with 8.7 seconds remaining and then missed a 30-foot heave as time expired.

Eufaula, which defeated the Trojans by three points in Troy just 10 days earlier, actually led by three points (50-47) with 3:39 remaining after Jaylin Robinson’s steal and lay-up. But the Trojans (11-13, 3-3) scored the next five points as the Trojans’ Tyler Mitchell sank a 3-pointer and Da’Vantez Jackson hit a lay-up.

Eufaula tied the game twice after that - the final time when Robinson hit a pair of free throws with 56.1 seconds remaining. Jackson answered with a trey from the right corner with 27 seconds remaining, giving the Trojans a 57-54 lead.

Robinson brought Eufaula within one point when he hit a short jumper with 15.7 seconds to go, but the host team could never score the winning points – even though the Trojans twice missed the front end of one-and-one opportunities in the final 15 seconds.

Friday’s game was close throughout. Eufaula scored the first four points but Charles Henderson answered and led 13-10 and 24-23 at the first and second quarter breaks.

The Trojans did build a six-point lead early in the third quarter before the Tigers called time out. It was a good timeout as Robinson scored the next nine points. Neither team led by more than four points the rest of the game.

Robinson scored 33 to lead Eufaula. Ben Thomas scored all eight of his points in the second half, and Terion Gates chipped in seven.

Mitchell and Dequantae Shockley scored 15 each for Charles Henderson while Jackson added 11.

Eufaula and Charles Henderson will meet again next month, but with much bigger stakes on the line. They’ll play Feb. 10 in the area tournament semifinals, which will be played in Rehobeth. The winner will earn a berth in the Class 5A Playoffs while the season ends for the loser.