With a 7-foot-6 center on one team and one of the nation’s best shooting guards on the other, there was no lack of excitement.
In the end, it was big man Tacko Fall, who scored 27 points for Tavares Liberty Christian in a 106-101 double-overtime victory against host Oak Ridge and Antonio Blakeney at the Breast Cancer Awareness Classic on Saturday.
“I was kind of exhausted, but then when I saw we were up, that fired me up a little bit,” said Fall, a UCF commit. “Antonio [is the hardest thing about playing them]. He’s a great shooter.
“I’ve been trash talking to Antonio and he’s been trash talking to me, too. Finally, we got the win over them.”
Blakeney, ranked second in the nation at his position by ESPN, racked up a game-high 47 points for Oak Ridge.
The score was tied at 89 at the end of the first overtime. Fall’s presence was exaggerated in the second OT. He blocked more shots, picked up more rebounds and downed a few free throws to give the Lions an edge before fouling out with 17 seconds left.
Alberto Moreno had 30 points for Liberty Christian and scored the tying bucket in the first OT period.
“We played earlier in the preseason and they beat us at the buzzer, so my guys were really anxious to get another shot at them,” said Liberty Christian coach Tony Atkins. “Tacko Fall, his defensive presence really did it. We also had some kids make some big shots for us down the stretch.”
One of the biggest plays was Ludy Kayouloud’s three-pointer at the end of regulation, which tied the game at 76.
Blakeney scored 14 of his points in overtime, including two threes that closed a 101-95 gap in double OT. Alex Owens scored 18 points for the Pioneers.
In earlier games, First Academy beat Pembroke Pines 104-73 and Villages lost to Lakewood 85-38.
Five players scored in double digits for TFA, including Fletcher Magee with a team-high 25. The Villages game was played on a running clock, beginning in the third quarter.
A late game between Evans and Oldsmar Christian was ongoing at the time this was published.
