JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In an exhilarating back and forth battle, the Lee Generals (2-0) defeated the Bishop Snyder Cardinals (3-1) on the road, 55-52. Alex Fudge, senior shooting guard/small forward, hit the two game winning free throws with 4.6 seconds to play.
In the beginning, offensively, both teams could not find the bottom of the net. Domonick Scott, sophomore forward, got the Generals going with two free throws and four more points to give him six first quarter points. Jalen Gilmore, junior guard, carried his team on offense during the first with seven first quarter points. After one, the Generals led 15-14.
Throughout the second quarter, the Generals and Cardinals traded baskets creating multiple lead changes. With three minutes to play in the half, the Generals found themselves down by three. Fudge dribbled around the Cardinals defender and flipped the ball inside to bring the Generals within one.
Gilmore continued to be an offensive threat for the Cardinals. With 1:30 to play in the half, he penetrated the middle of the Generals defense and floated the ball up and over the rim to bring the Cardinals within one, 26-25.
But at the half, the Generals found themselves with a five point lead despite Gilmore’s 11 first half points.
Coming back from the break the Generals wasted no time on offense. Tarence Guinyard, senior point guard, hit a corner three to increase the Generals lead to eight, 35-27.
With 4:23 to play in the third, Gilmore drained a deep left wing three to bring the score to 39-37 Lee. Heading into the final eight minutes the score was 40-39.
With five minutes to play in the game, the Generals found themselves down by three, 45-42. Guinyard popped up at the top of the key and drained the three to tie the game up once again.
The score was 53-50 Lee with 10 seconds to go in the game. Bishop Snyder had the ball in their front court. Gilmore rose up to take the three but was not given enough room to land so the refs called a foul on the Generals. Gilmore was a perfect 6/6 from the stripe.
He sunk the first two. Then the Generals called a timeout to try and freeze Gilmore at the line. Their strategy worked. Gilmore missed the final free throw. Fudge grabbed the board and was fouled immediately. Fudge sunk both free throws with 4.6 seconds remaining to give the Generals the road win, 55-52, in a nail biting thriller.
Leading scorers for Lee were Guinyard (15), Fudge (11), and Scott (10). The leading scorers for Bishop Snyder were Gilmore (27) and Justin Hicks (9).
Bishop Snyder (3-1) will be back at home Friday night as they welcome their rival, the Bishop Kenny Crusaders (2-0). Game is set to start at 7:30pm. The Lee Generals (2-0) will head back home and prepare to welcome the Ed White Commanders (2-2) on Saturday. Game starts at 7pm.
