Highlanders survive last second shot from Falcons
~January 29, 2008~Boys
Story and Photos by Mike Maddock

Heathwood Hall's Corey Littlejohn drives by Ben Lippen's Matt Smarr. Littlejohn finished with 16 points. Smarr had 14 for the Falcons.

Ben Lippen's Mitchell Deter stepped to the free throw line at Heathwood Hall with 7.7 seconds remaining in the game. His Falcons were down 54- 51 to the Highlanders.

Deter drained the first free throw to draw within two, then missed the second on purpose to give his team a shot at a rebound and put- back. Teammate Andre Hennie came up with the loose ball and found Deter behind the three point l ine. Deter got a good clean look, but his attempt at a game winner rimmed out and the Highlanders escaped with a 54- 52 victory Tuesday night.

The Falcons looked like they could have gotten one more shot as Matt Smarr was in perfect position for a rebound and appeared to have been the victim of an over- the- back foul, but the referees' whistles stayed silent. Mac Whalen corralled the loose ball and hurled it to the other end of the court to end the game.

The Highlanders jumped out to a 12- 2 lead thanks to Mac Whalen's two three pointers and Corey Littlejohn's slashing moves to the basket. The Falcons closed to within two at 13- 11 due to five quick points from Deter, but another three from Mac Whalen and three free throws from Littlejohn stretched the lead to 19- 11 to end the first.

Ben Lippen's Mitchell Deter tries to get around Heathwood Hall's Morgan Whalen. Deter led all scorers with 18. Whalen had 11 for the Highlanders.

Littlejohn scored six in the second quarter to help maintain Heathwood's eight point lead at halftime, 30- 22.

The Highlanders jumped out to a 37- 25 lead to start the second half on Morgan Whalen's seven straight points.

Deter's two three pointers and Mobley Jeter's steal and conventional three- point play closed the gap to 43- 38 to end the third quarter.

Matt Smarr's two free throws cut Heathwood's lead to 47- 45 with 6:03 remaining, but Brett Whalen's five of six free throws down the stretch gave the Highlanders the 54- 51 advantage the Falcons could not overcome.

Littlejohn led the Highlanders with 16 points. Mac Whalen added 12, and Morgan Whalen and Brett Whalen finished with 11 and nine points respectively.

Deter led all scorers with 18 coming off the bench three minutes into the game. Smarr, who entered the game with Deter, added 14, and Gray Welborn finished with six for the Falcons.