SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With 16 seconds remaining in the game Kameron Hobbs missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity at the free throw line, Eli Pitts (Gainesville, Ga.) grabbed the rebound and found Jimmie Sanders III (Dallas, Texas). With no timeouts remaining the Valkyries set up one last play and Sanders III converted on a layup attempt to give Converse a 71-70 overtime victory over North Greenville on Saturday afternoon in the Weisiger Center.
 
For Converse (4-3, 3-2 Conference Carolinas) this is their first ever overtime game and first ever overtime win in program history. The win on Saturday also snapped a two-game losing skid for the Valkyries this week.
 
The Valkyries won the opening tip-off and Pitts scored the first basket of the game on a put back layup attempt. Converse started out strong defensively as the Valkyries opened the game on a 6-1 run against the Crusaders. At the 14:49 mark of the first half Joe Conley scored the first layup for North Greenville. The layup jump started a 9-3 run for the Crusader offense as the score became deadlocked at 9-9 with 13:32 to play.
 
Over the next several moments of game time both teams stayed within striking distance of one another. Then Jordan Warlick (Irmo, S.C.) went on a personal 5-0 run to give the Valkyries a 21-13 edge over North Greenville. The Valkyries kept the pressure on the Crusaders and with 48 second to go in the half Wes Morgan (Charlotte, N.C.) connected on a three-pointer to give Converse a 33-22 lead. Moments later Sanders III knocked down a three-pointer to send the Valkyries into the halftime break with a 36-24 advantage.
 
Coming out of the halftime break, North Greenville came out clicking on the offensive end. The Crusaders opened the second half on a 19-4 run and took a 43-40 lead over the Valkyries with 12:41 remaining in the game. The two teams then traded baskets for a few possessions before North Greenville went on their second run of the half.
 
With 9:04 remaining in the period Jacob Redding hit a three-pointer and the Crusaders held a 53-43 advantage over Converse. North Greenville led by as many 13-points, before Pitts and the Valkyries offense began to cut into the Crusaders lead. From the 7:25 mark of the half to the 5:59 mark, Pitts went on a personal 7-0 run to bring the Valkyries back.
 
Pitts continued to have the hot hand for the Valkyries and with 1:07 to go in the game, the freshman knocked down a mid-range jumper to pull the Valkyries within a point. A pair of Hobbs free-throws gave North Greenville a 61-58 advantage with just 24 seconds left in the game. Converse stayed calm with the game on the line and Warlick hit the game-tying three-pointer with 11 seconds left in the game. Earl Burgess III (Spartanburg, S.C.) swatted away the Crusaders last second shot attempt to send the game to overtime.
 
In the overtime period the two teams matched one another shot-for-shot. At one point during the overtime period both teams held a three-point advantage over the other. With 29 seconds remaining in the game Burgess III came up with another big defensive stop and stole the ball away from the Crusaders. Burgess III found Sanders III for a fast break layup and the Valkyries trailed 70-69. The Valkyries intentionally fouled Hobbs with 16 seconds to go in the game. Hobbs missed the front end of the one-and-one to give Converse hope late in the game.
 
With no timeouts remaining the Converse offense setup one final play. Sanders III drove down the right side of the lane and scored the game-winning basket with 7 seconds left on the clock. North Greenville called timeout and drew up one final play, Hobbs missed the final jump shot and Converse escaped with the win.
 
Pitts recorded his first career double-double as he led the team with 24-points and 13-rebounds. Burgess III and Sanders III each added 14-points in the match, while Warlick contributed 12-points for the Valkyries.
 
Next Up:
The Valkyries will have a week off between games as they welcome Lees-McRae to town next Saturday. Tip-off against the Bobcats is slated for a 4:00 p.m. start time inside the Weisiger Center.  
 
Follow Converse
https://www.facebook.com/ConverseValkyries
Twitter: @Valkyries_MBB
Instagram: @valkyries_mbb
Youtube.com/Converse Athletics