Jon Barnes Jr. connected on a 50-foot heave as the buzzer sounded to give Snider the 53-52 victory over Homestead on Friday night. Even without the shot, the final thirty seconds of the game were crazy. (Pictured: Michael Eley)
After a few empty possessions to begin the game, Zak Krueger buried a left-side three for Homestead. Moments later, Barnes hit one for Snider. That started a string of three possessions where Snider made three-pointers. Late in the opening quarter, Elijah Wimby hit one to put Snider up 21-10.
To end the first period, Pat Raudenbush connected on two triples for Homestead. Early in the second, Alec Grinsfelder scored inside then Luke Goode followed up with his own basket. That capped a 10-0 by Homestead to make 21-20.
The likely duo of Dillon Duff and Michael Ely answered for Snider before Barnes hit another outside shot to put Snider up 28-23. Grant Simmons and Grinsfelder scored the final nine points of the half. Simmons took a pass from Goode and drilled a three from the right wing as the first half expired.
The pace slowed in the third quarter as Homestead went into a scoring drought that lasted almost five minutes. Snider was able to make three three-pointers including one from Jay Moore at the end of the quarter. Moore opened the fourth quarter scoring with another three.
With Homestead down three with over two minutes to go, the Spartans elected to foul Snider and send Jayshawn Underwood to the line. He missed the front end of the bonus, but Homestead came up empty on its possession. Eley scored at the rim to extend Snider’s lead to five points.
When Goode missed a three with just over a minute to play, it looked like Snider was going to seal the game. Duff rebounded Goode’s miss but committed an offensive foul as he tried to clear it. It gave the ball back to Homestead and disqualified Duff with his fifth foul.
After the Duff foul, Quinn Harmon found Goode for an open three-pointer. The ensuing foul sent Underwood back to the line. He missed the front end once again. Down two points, Goode tried to put Homestead ahead with a three. It was off the mark, but Grant Simmons was there for the board. He was fouled and sent to the free throw line for two shots. He made the first but missed the second. The rebound bounced out of bounds off of Snider.
Down one with thirty seconds left, Goode made a shot in the lane to give Homestead the lead. Eley brought the ball up the floor for Snider then drove right to left for a 10-foot shot from the left lane line. He sank it to give Snider the lead back.
After a timeout, Goode brought the ball up the left side of the court. He nearly lost the ball as he reached the three-point line. Near the corner, he changed direction in an attempt to create space. He forced a contested three, but Eley was called for a foul with four seconds remaining.
With Homestead down one point, Goode drilled all three free throws to put the Spartans up two points.
Without a timeout left, Snider had to take the ball out of the net and hope for the best. That’s when Barnes drilled the 50-foot shot after a couple of dribbles to give Snider the 53-52 win.
Snider defeated Homestead 65-63 on December 28 in the semifinal of the SAC Tournament as well.
Barnes finished 5-8 from three-point range for a team-high 15 points. Duff had 15 points and five rebounds before fouling out. Eley with 13 points and eight rebounds. Underwood only scored two points but had six assists.
Goode led Homestead with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Grinsfelder added 15 points and six rebounds. Simmons tallied 10 points. Zak Krueger was limited to 11 minutes due to an apparent injury.