By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

First half mistakes kept John F. Kennedy Catholic scrambling back in a 76-71 overtime boys basketball loss to Auburn Mountainview in the boys section of the 2014 Oberto Christmas Classic held at Kennedy High School on Sat., Dec. 26.

"We didn't play well in the first half," said a disappointed Lancer coach Don Hoffman
Three lead changes in the first half preceded AJ McGrew's two free throws that positioned Kennedy Catholic into a 69-68 lead with 2:29 remaining in the five-minute overtime.

Four seconds later, Elijah Johnson was fouled in back court and proceeded to convert two free throws for the Lions.

With 1:48 showing on the clock, Keannu Royster broke free for an Auburn Mountainview layup after the Lancers missed an inside shot. But 72 seconds later, Parker Diller gave Kennedy Catholic new life with a breakaway basket that drew Kennedy within 72-71.

However, the Lions buckled down to close strongly with 4 of 4 charity tosses down the final seconds to claim victory against the Lancers, who had problems scoring regularly from the perimeter during the entire game.

In a lackluster Lancer first half, Kennedy did well to open up a 14-4 first quarter lead before giving way to an Auburn Mountainview assault and falling behind, 17-16, after one quarter.

The Jaguars kept the pressure on a Lancer squad that had problems controlling the ball and shooting well consistently and eventually led 36-28 heading into halftime.

Trailing 39-28, Kennedy Catholic forged forward behind McGrew and James Jolly, cutting down the 11-point lead to 39-36 with just less than six minutes in the third quarter.

Six-foot, 10-inch junior Tristan McGrew scored a close-in goal to cap a Jaguar jaunt to a 45-36 lead midway through the quarter. Ryan Lacey drained a 3-pointer later in the quarter for 53-40 AM command. Parker Diller converted four consecutive free throws to keep the Lancers barely in the hunt at 53-44 after three quarters.

Diller scored another field goal to trigger a progressive JFK comeback that ended with the Lancers trailing only 53-49 at 5:24 left in the fourth quarter.

JFK drew within four again at 57-53, but Lacey canned a pair of free throws for AM. Royster commandeered another JFK rally that Royster capped with a basket and the Lancers led 60-59.

It was a Miguel basket that put the Jaguars back in front by one before Diller popped home a short jumper for a 62-61 lead that Victor Daggs erased with a breakaway Mountainview hoop.

As 1:01 showed on the scoreboard clock, Diller sank two free throws that were partially offset by Miguel's conversion of the second of two free throw chances as the scored moved to 64-64 and the overtime.
Diller led five Lancers in double figures with 21. The others posting double figures were Michael Sasonoff (13), Royster (12), McGrew (11) and Jolly (10).

Lacey poured in 29 Lion points with nine rebounds. Miguel followed with 13 and Elijah Johnson added 11.