Arbor View edges Cimarron-Memorial, 64-60

Ed Hauth

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010 | 11:13 p.m.

In a tightly contested battle, the Arbor View boys basketball team closed the game on a 13-4 run to defeat Cimarron-Memorial 64-60 Friday.

The game was close throughout, with six points being the largest lead for each team.

“We have five seniors on this team that have all put in their time,” said Arbor View coach Kyle Hageness. “They are leaders. They are guys that do the right thing in practice and for that character to show is great leadership from our seniors.”

The Spartans took a 56-51 lead with 2:45 to play when junior center Erik Brewer scored six consecutive points following a Will Martin Layup, which gave Arbor View a 51-50 lead.

Brewer, who led all scorers with 20 points, fouled out with 2:32 remaining, and Arbor View took advantage of his absence.

The Aggies pulled within a point at 56-55 following two Chase Ealy free throws and a Deandre Bright steal and layup.

Bright and Ealy led the Aggies in scoring with 13 points a piece as Arbor View improved to 5-3 on the season.

“We played good tonight,” Bright said. “We were down for a stretch, but we came back and we fought as a team, and defense wins games and that’s what we did.”

Spartans forward Deijon Spillers hit a 3-point field goal to extend the lead to 59-55, but Bright answered back with a layup to cut the deficit in half with 0:58 to play.

Trailing 60-57 with 0:26 left to play, Arbor View senior guard Deandrea Johnson came up with a huge offensive rebound and lay-in to pull the Aggies within a point.

On the ensuing inbounds play, Arbor View freshman Diontae Jones stole the inbounds pass and rushed down the court for the go-ahead layup.

Jones stepped up on the defensive end on the following possession as he drew a charge on Spartans guard Marques Barnes to help preserve the Aggies victory with seven seconds remaining.

“That kid is 14-years-old,” Hageness said. “That kid is a true freshman. That kid is the future of Arbor View high school basketball that just became the present.”

Jones was injured on the game-clinching charge as he hit his head on the floor following the contact. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

“He took the game winning charge that gave him a concussion and sent him to the hospital,” Hageness said. “What a gutsy play. What a gutsy kid, and we’re glad he is wearing Arbor View red and gray.”

Jones finished with 10 points and was one of four Aggies to finish in double-figures in scoring.

“He gets out there and plays his role and he does good things for us as a team, and that’s what were looking for,” Bright said of Jones.

Bright made a free throw to extend the Aggies’ lead to 62-60 with 0:05 left, and Ealy sealed the game with two free throws following a Spartans turnover.

The Spartans led by two points after each of the first three quarters, but Arbor View out-scored them 22-16 in the final frame to get the road victory.

The loss was the first of the year for the Spartans as they fell to 3-1 on the season.