By Adam Brown

It was a game that had it all.  The contest between the boys of Station Camp Middle and Hawkins had a fast start, a come-from-behind performance to close the half, several lead changes, an eight point deficit cut to one with seconds to play, free throws that meant win or loss down the stretch and a dazzling finish before the buzzer.  When the final buzzer sounded, it was the home team, Station Camp earning a one point victory, 52-51, to move to 6-2 on the season.    

The contest began with what appeared to be a runaway performance in the making for the home-standing Bison, as Station Camp secured a 7-0 run over the Commandos.  However, the Black and Gold would come storming back to close the distance before the first period buzzer sounded.  After the first quarter, the lead was successfully cut to a one possession game, 14-12.  

Station Camp picked up in the second quarter much like they started the first.   The Bison went ahead by six points early in the quarter; leading the Commandos 18-12.  

A three point play by Hawkins’ Ty Crawford and a basket recorded by Austin Williams gave the Commandos their first lead of the night, 19-18.  But it would be Station Camp that would earn the lead at the halftime intermission.  Heading into the locker room, the Maroon and Gray secured a one point lead, 24-23.  

Hawkins stepped out halftime and quickly claimed the lead.  Before the third quarter could come to a close, the Bison had slipped into a four point deficit, 37-33.  

Station Camp’s Ryan Warren recorded the fourth quarter of his life to follow.  Warren opened the period with a three point basket to cut the Hawkins lead to one, 37-36.  The Commandos would answer.  Matt Osborne hit back-to-back three pointers to give Hawkins the largest lead of the night, 44-36.  

Warren hit another three-pointer with 1:50 to play to move the score back to within a one possession game, 46-44.  Williams was then fouled and forced to hit two shots from the free throw line with 1:17 to play.  After hitting both, the score stood at a one point disadvantage for Station Camp 49-48.

Commando Troy Booth fouled out shortly thereafter, effectively taking Hawkins’ shot blocker out of the game.  

Williams was fouled on the other end of the court and stepped to the free throw line to take two shots.  The eighth grader hit both, moving the score to 51-50.  

Austin Janco accepted the inbounds pass and raced down court.  With a few ticks left on the clock, Janco successfully drove to the basket and sank a lay up to give Station Camp a one point lead, 52-51.  It would move onward to be the game’s final.  

Warren finished with a game high 18 points.  Janco and Keaton Dotson each went into double figures with ten points.  Walt Heatherly had six points while Wes Jones and David Rivera each had three.    Rounding out the scoring for the Station Camp Middle School Bison was Austin Kirby who finished with two points from the field.  

For Hawkins, Williams finished with 16.  Crawford and Osborne each followed with 11. Nick Mnich had nine points, and John Oehlschlaeger and Booth each had two.