Dana King scores 47 points as Valley Stream South wins in overtime
Valley Stream South's Dana King controls the ball against Lawrence on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Dana King scored 24 of Valley Stream South's 31 points in the fourth quarter and overtime and finished with 47 in the Falcons' 78-74 win over visiting Lawrence Friday night.
King shot 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute of regulation to erase a 63-59 deficit, tie the score at 64 with 9.6 seconds left and force overtime.
King's three-point play with 2:52 left in overtime gave the Falcons (6-2) a 70-64 lead. Lawrence (3-6) would get no closer than three the rest of the way.
"He's Mariano Rivera," coach Matt Johnsen said. "He closes. He's the best player in the county. He's been the best player in our school's history."
Valley Stream South, which lost its first two games, has won six straight. Lawrence has struggled with Marcus Saint-Furcy sidelined with a knee injury, but the Golden Tornadoes "have been in almost every game," coach Lou Robinson said.
"This win helps a lot," King said. "It gives us a lot of confidence. I'm just happy it happened."
South closed the first half on a 15-4 run, taking a 36-26 lead into the break. King, who picked up his second foul late in the first quarter after scoring nine of the Falcons' first 11 points, came back into the game and scored eight points during the spurt. His three-point play with 3:48 left gave the hosts a 24-22 lead, starting the run. King also assisted a two-handed slam by Hall Elisias that gave the Falcons a 31-26 lead with 1:42 left.
Kameron Gilchrest had 12 points in the third quarter as Lawrence outscored South 21-11 to tie the score at 47 entering the fourth quarter. Gilchrest went on a 7-0 run by himself to close the frame. He chased down a pair of misses and converted the ensuing layups, and nailed a three-pointer out of the right corner.
The teams went back and forth in fourth quarter, and Lawrence took a 63-59 lead with one minute remaining after Adante' Oliver hit two foul shots one possession after taking a steal in for a bucket.
Elisias had 13 points for Valley Stream South.
Sam Robinson led the Golden Tornadoes with 16 points before fouling out early in overtime. Avrail Rodgers had 15 points, Oliver scored 13 and Gilchrest had 12.
