Paint Branch High School vs Seneca Valley High School

Photo courtesy of @therealphotoking Instagram. The Montgomery County boys’ basketball standings are only getting tighter and tighter — with each passing week, razor-thin margins reflect a seriously competitive division. That trend continued on Friday, as Paint Branch earned its eighth win of the season in a comeback effort over Seneca Valley in overtime, 60-58. Both programs now sit with an 8-4 record, and both are top 10 in the county standings. Paint Branch was aggressive off the tip, trapping and double-teaming Seneca Valley at multiple points — on the wings, in the post and at the top of the 3-point line. But this confusing defense was handled by the Eagles, who quickly found the open man in the middle of the paint for the first bucket of the game. But the Panthers’ offense was equally aggressive. Paint Branch, which has been a steady shooting squad from downtown for most of the year, was instead intentional with its drives early. Some of the drives were a bit reckless, creating excessive contact, but the message was sent — the drives opened up the 3-ball later in the quarter. Paint Branch ended the first frame with a 14-9 advantage. The second quarter was a defensive clinic, for the large part. Seneca Valley moved the ball with pace and aplomb, but it had a much tougher time breaking Paint Branch’s shifting zone. The zone didn’t allow Ian Bullie, the team’s sizable big, to get any free looks or paint touches. Paint Branch’s Ryan Bobb and the Eagles’ Jamari Hoes traded late 3-pointers, and with the help of some free throws, Seneca Valley swung the tide in its favor, taking a 23-21 lead to the break. The advantage grew to as big as 10 points by the end of the third quarter. Seneca Valley used the Panthers’ turnovers to their advantage, and the size mismatches in the paint offered plenty of second chance opportunities — some big hitters came from beyond the arc in the third frame. The Eagles also consistently pushed the pace in transition, catching Paint Branch’s trapping zone in poor positions. With just eight minutes left to play, Seneca Valley led 41-31. Paint Branch needed a desperate response, so how did it get it? In regulation, it truly came down to the last 1:38, when Paint Branch assumed possession down 50-41. Quick ball movement led to a three, but it was off the mark. A quick turnover on the other end gave the Panthers the ball back. After getting fouled on a quick inbounds pass, Kahlil Fountain hit two free throws. Then the turnover bug struck again with under a minute to play. Instead of taking the open space provided to them with all of the Paint Branch defenders essentially attacking one player, the Eagles kept trying to play keepaway. In the end, that strategy backfired immensely. Charles “Malik” Simmons Jr. then missed a pair of free throws, as the ball continued to bounce Paint Branch’s way. A Bobb deep 3-pointer and steal-and-score ultimately tied the game and forced overtime. In the four minute extra period, the action was back-and-forth and foul-ridden. Seneca Valley nearly did to Paint Branch what the Panthers had done to it just minutes before, finding itself down six with 40 seconds left. Malachi Delaware was fouled on a three and then hit a layup shortly afterwards. But a Bobb free throw was enough to keep the game in hand for Paint Branch, who earned a resilient victory Friday night.