Hillcrest edges out Lamar

By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
December 20, 2003
Taylor Bulgar hit a running jumper in the final seconds to lift Hillcrest Christian to a 54-52 victory over the Lamar Raiders on Friday night.
Lamar battled back from a 10-point deficit to tie the game, but Bulgar's basket with five seconds left to play finished off the Raiders.
In the girls' game, Hillcrest came through with a 37-27 win over the homestanding Lady Raiders.
In the boys' game, the Raiders struggled with turnovers and missed free throws but still about came away with the big MPSA Class AAA matchup.
The Raiders led early as Taylor Dean hit a jumper and David Haggard hit a field goal and a free throw to make the score 5-0.
Hillcrest was able to battle back and tie the game at 10 with a basket by Chandler Pleasent, but a pair of tip-ins by Jason Strickland gave Lamar a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The visiting Cougars put together an 11-2 run in the second quarter, and a pair of free throws by Bulgar later in the quarter gave the Cougars a nine-point lead at 31-22.
The Raiders were able to cut the lead to 33-26 at halftime on a long desperation three by Haggard at the buzzer.
In the third quarter, Len Toplind scored six straight points for the Cougars to stretch the lead to 10 points and Hillcrest led 46-36 at the end of the third period.
Lamar came back strong in the fourth quarter, outscoring Hillcrest 11-2 in the first four minutes to cut the lead to one.
A basket and a pair of free throws by Richard Lind gave the Cougars a 52-47 lead, but a basket by Austin Roebuck and a free throw by Strickland cut the lead to 52-50 with 1:43 left.
Lamar got the ball after a missed free throw and Haggard came through with a bucket to tie the game with 1:20 left to play.
After both teams missed some chances, Bulgar took the ball and drove for a runner with five seconds left to give Hillcrest the victory.
Roebuck finished with a game-high 19 points for the Raiders and Haggard added 18 points. Pleasent led the Cougars with 17 points.
The Raiders, now 9-3 and 0-1 in division play, will be off until after Christmas when they will travel to play Newton on Jan. 3.
Hillcrest girls 37
Lamar 27
Hillcrest was able to hit shots down the stretch to take a 37-27 win over Lamar on Friday night.
The Lady Raiders led the entire first half, but were unable to get shots to fall in the second half.
Lamar took an early lead with an 8-3 run led by a pair of baskets by Cheryl Luquire.
Hillcrest cut the lead to 8-7 before a basket by Laura Ann White and a field goal by Kristina Makey gave Lamar a 12-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Each team was only able to score six points in the second quarter. Jasmine White scored four for Lamar and Makey added a pair of free throws to held Lamar hold an 18-15 lead.
Hillcrest opened the third quarter with a three pointer by Whitney Hobby. Elizabeth Luke answered with a three for Lamar, but a basket by Brandy Newell and a three by Jamie Baker gave Hillcrest the lead at 23-21.
White hit a shot to tie the game for the Raiders, but the Lady Cougars finished the quarter with a 4-0 run to take a 27-23 lead.
Hobby hit a three to start the fourth as Hillcrest went on a 10-2 run to stretch to a 12-point lead. Lamar added a basket with 2:08 left to play but was unable to hit any shots down the stretch and the Lady Cougars held on for the win.