PORTLAND There wasn’t any one point in Monday evening’s District 9-AAA Tournament consolation game that frustrated Beech High boys head basketball coach Darrin Joines.
It was a combination of multiple things that held the fourth-seeded Buccaneers back, ultimately resulting in a 53-52 loss to second-seeded Lebanon at Portland High School.
Beech High senior forward Caleb Walton elevates for a shot as Lebanon senior Kobe Neuble defends during first-quarter action. Walton scored 13 points in the Buccaneers’ 53-52 loss on Monday evening.
Trailing by three points, Beech sophomore guard A.J. Robertson drove inside and scored on a layin with less than six seconds to play, but Lebanon never picked the ball up to inbound it, letting time expire. The Buccaneers did not have a timeout to use on their final possession.
“I don’t know why we’re taking a (two-pointer) with no timeouts,” Joines said. “Why even chance it?”
Beech (16-15) trailed 15-4 less than six minutes into the contest and trailed by as many as 12 points (26-14) with 5:04 left in the second quarter.
“The way we started the game – thinking we could just come in and have a decent game – our effort to start the game was really bothersome … really, really bothersome,” Joines said. “We absolutely did not deserve to win. If we had won, we would not have deserved to win, because we started the game so slow. You can’t do that against a good team.”
Beech scored nine consecutive points late in the first half to pull within three points (26-23) before Lebanon senior Kobe Neuble’s 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining gave the Blue Devils (23-7) a 29-23 lead at halftime.
Lebanon stretched the advantage by scoring the first four points of the second half before the Buccaneers responded with a 7-0 run, capped by sophomore point guard Ty Dean’s 3-pointer with 4:49 left in the third quarter.
However, Beech struggled from the free-throw line throughout the game, making only 9 of 19 attempts.
“Nine for 19 is not going to win you many fifth-grade games, much less a high-school game, and it’s guys up there that can make them,” Joines said.
Lebanon extended its advantage to a 10 points with 16 seconds left in the third quarter before Beech senior Noah Chatman ended the period with a field goal.
Beech High sophomore guard Nelson Smith drives along the baseline as Lebanon sophomore Eddie Jackson (23) defends during fourth-quarter action. Smith scored four points.
The Buccaneers scored six of the first eight points of the fourth quarter, but Joines said there were opportunities for more.
“To start the fourth quarter, on a two-on-one, we drive it all the way down and then try to pass it,” Joines said. “On another two-on-one, we walk. At halfcourt, we throw one over somebody’s head. We were just not mentally dialed in. It’s unbelievable.”
Robertson connected on a long 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining, trimming Lebanon’s lead to three (51-48) before Chatman forced a turnover that led to a field goal from senior forward Caleb Walton.
Walton – along with Chatman – led the Buccaneers with 13 points.
Blue Devil junior Cameron Oliver made two free throws with 30.8 seconds remaining, giving Lebanon a three-point lead prior to Beech’s final possession.
Three players reached double figures for the Blue Devils – Neuble (17 points), sophomore Eddie Jackson (14) and Oliver (10).
The Blue Devils won both regular-season meetings between the two teams – by a 58-56 score at Lebanon on Jan. 15 and a 63-52 contest at Beech on Feb. 9.
Monday’s victory extends Lebanon’s winning streak in the series to five games. The Buccaneers’ last victory in the series was a 50-47 triumph at Beech on Jan. 4, 2014.
Beech awaits the result of Tuesday’s District 10-AAA Tournament championship game between Springfield and Kenwood as the Buccaneers will visit the district champion for a Region 5-AAA Tournament quarterfinal on Saturday evening.
Until then, Joines said the Buccaneers have to refocus.
“We’ll have to,” Joines said. “If we don’t, we’ll be done in about five days.”
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.
BEECH (52) – Noah Chatman 13, Caleb Walton 13, Ty Dean 8, A.J. Robertson 7, Heath Pentecost 4, Nelson Smith 4, Ben Buhrow 3.
LEBANON (53) – Kobe Neuble 17, Eddie Jackson 14, Cameron Oliver 10, Tay Jackson 7, Noah Mulaski 3, David Cavile 2.
Half: 29-23, Lebanon. Three-point goals: Beech 3 (Dean 2, Robertson 1), Lebanon 4 (Neuble 3, Mulaski 1). Records: Beech 16-15, Lebanon 23-7.