By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Foster boys basketball head coach Isaac Tucker had a straightforward reason for Seamount League 2A Foster's 82-77 overtime win at Nisqually 1A Seattle Christian on Tues., Dec. 23.

"Once our defense warmed up, the pressure gave us the momentum."

Overtime was dominated early by the Bulldogs of Tukwila.

Ronnie Roberson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored. Following a Seattle Christian missed shot, Jordan Magee hit a layup on transition ahead of another Warrior missed shot, Elijah Nnanuba hit a short range basket. Following a Warrior turnover, Patrick Straight's basket had Foster in command at 78-70 with 1:48 left in the five-minute overtime.

Seattle Christian roared back from an 80-71 deficit beginning with a Tyler Fox corner 3-pointer.
The Warriors called time out and subsequently stole the ball with 38 seconds left.

Another SC time out set up the offense as Taggart Anderson gunned home a 3-pointer to bring the home team within 80-77 as 24 seconds showed.

Fox stole the ball, but rolled the rim on a layup try and Magee broke away for the layin that sealed the deal with five seconds left.

"We didn't guard them inside," said Seattle Christian coach Shaun De Yager. "Roberson is a tough player. Despite giving up the lead (in the second quarter), we closed with a good fourth quarter run (to reach overtime)."

Roberson pounded home 35 points on 13 of 21 field goal shooting and 9 of 15 from the free throw line while also collecting 21 rebounds and three blocked shots.

SC worked the ball well for a 16-7 lead with 2:55 left in the first quarter.

Foster defensive pressure turned the tide and Roberson ruled inside to bring Foster into a 17-16 lead, although the Warriors managed to lead 21-19 going into the second quarter.

The Bulldogs erased a 28-21 deficit to lead 29-28 en route to a 38-34 halftime edge.

After SC tied the score at 38-all, the Foster defense and Roberson took control, creating a 12-point clearance at one stage before the Warriors closed the gap to 58-52 heading into the fourth quarter.
Seattle Christian fell behind by eight points, but kept closing the gap.

Jeffrey Sutherland nailed a short jump hook and a 3-point bomb ahead of two Taggart Anderson free throws to get SC within 62-61.

The Bulldogs scrambled back to lead 66-61.

Two Anderson 3-pointers sandwiched around a Roberson free throw forged a 67-67 standoff with 2:53 in regulation.

Following a tie at 69, both teams struggled at the free throw line.

With 36.7 seconds left, Roberson converted the second of two free throws to send the fray into overtime.
Straight scored 16 points while Freddie Roberson added 14 Bulldog tallies.

Anderson finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for SC. Fox contributed 22 points, four assists and five steals. Jeffrey Sutherland added 15 points.