Story Created:
Jan 13, 2009 at 5:16 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jan 14, 2009 at 6:56 PM EST
ONEIDA , N.Y. (WKTV) - Oneida's free-throw weakness nearly cost it on Tuesday, but the Indians' rebounding and defense allowed them to hold on for a 53-52 victory over visiting Tri-Valley League West rival V-V-S in a battle for first place.
After V-V-S closed the third quarter with a 9-2 run to go up 42-40, its first lead since 2-0, Oneida took a 9-2 run of its own early in the fourth to go up 51-46.
Then the Red Devils started fouling, and the Indians started choking.
Oneida made just two of 11 free throws down the stretch, allowing V-V-S to stay in the game. Evan Croll cut it to 53-52 with a three-pointer with 11.2 seconds left. After a foul with 6.8 seconds remaining, Ryan Kramer missed two free throws and a timeout gave the Red Devils the ball at halfcourt with 3.5 seconds left. The inbounds pass went to Croll who tried to drive through the paint, but Kramer and Justin Didio forced a turnover and the clock ran out to give Oneida a big sigh of relief and a big victory.
Kramer finished with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds while Joe McCormick added 10 points. Adam Kemp led V-V-S with 18 points and 10 rebounds, Croll chipped in 16 and Joe Barbano scored 14 points including four 3s.
One of the big keys for Oneida was team rebounding, as V-V-S only got an unofficial 29-25 advantage despite a big advantage in size.
The Indians led 31-25 at halftime.
The win gives Oneida a season sweep of V-V-S and puts the Indians in sole possession of first place in the Tri-Valley League West with a 6-2 record (8-4 overall). The Red Devils drop to second at 5-3 (10-3).
