By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Earlier in the season Highland Park had trouble in close games, getting off to a 3-5 start with three losses by 3 or fewer points.
But suddenly the Scots are finding a way to win those games, including Friday's 55-47 overtime Centennial League decision over Seaman at Highland Park.
Highland Park, which had dropped a 66-63 double-overtime decision to the Vikings early in the season, trailed much of the game in Friday's rematch, but the Scots rallied to force overtime on a clutch 3-pointer from 6-foot-7 senior CJ Powell with 2 seconds left in regulation and then outscored Seaman 15-7 in the OT to stretch their winning streak to five games.
"I think the biggest thing is just growth,'' said Highland Park coach Michael Williams, whose team improved to 8-5 overall and 7-3 in the league. "Dropping games is one thing, but you've got to be able to learn lessons, get better from it and grow from it, grind from it and I think that's something that we're showing with the group right now.
"The biggest thing is to build on it. We've learned to respect where we're at right now and don't take anything for granted and just continue to grow. That's all we can ask for.''
Highland Park led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter, but Seaman, which fell to 6-8 overall and 5-6 in the league, took an 18-17 lead at the half and took a 30-26 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Vikings took a 36-31 lead with 3:24 left in the fourth on a hoop from junior Ty Henry and Seaman led 40-37 with 12.6 seconds left after two Henry free throws.
Powell came up huge seconds later, however, tying the game on his second 3-pointer of the game.
"I just had to score and produce for my team,'' Powell said. "The play broke down. It was supposed to go to Scap (junior Juan'Tario Roberts), but it broke down and they took him away so I just popped to the corner and it just happened that I knocked the shot down.''
Powell added 6 more points in the OT to finish with a game-high 28 points and also grabbed 8 rebounds while senior Mukhajhae Daniels added 12 points and Roberts 10.
Junior Mateo Hyman led Seaman with 22 points and 10 rebounds while sophomore Aron Davis added 9 points and 9 rebounds.
"Give Powell credit for stepping up and hitting a tough shot,'' Seaman coach Craig Cox said. "Aron Davis had a hand in his face and he knocked it down and then they took that momentum and made it really difficult for us in overtime.''
HIGHLAND PARK BOYS 55, SEAMAN 47 (OT)
Seaman 9 9 12 10 7 -- 47
Highland Park 10 7 9 14 15 -- 55
Seaman (6-8, 5-6) -- Hyman 8-16 4-5 22, Henry 2-12 2-2 6, Brewer 2-8 0-0 5, Stallbaumer 1-3 0-0 3, Davis 4-6 1-2 9, Stuewe 0-0 0-0 0, Kobuszewski 0-4 0-0 0, Gormley 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 18-50 7-9 47.
Highland Park (8-5, 7-3) -- Peppers 0-6 2-2 2, Powell 10-15 6-11 28, Kingcannon 1-5 0-0 3, Prosper 0-0 0-0 0, Roberts 4-8 0-0 10, Richardson 0-1 0-0 0, Simms 0-1 0-0 0, Daniels 2-5 7-9 12. Totals 17-41 15-22 55.
3-point goals -- Seaman 4 (Hyman 2, Brewer, Stallbaumer), Highland Park 6 (Powell 2, Roberts 2, Daniels, Kingcannon). Total fouls -- Seaman 17, Highland Park 17. Fouled out -- none.
