Altamont boys basketball stayed levelheaded and battled through a physical game to beat Tuscola 61-58 in the Macon Meridian 1A Sectional Semifinals on Tuesday night and advance on to the Sectional Championship on Friday. Tuscola opened the scoring but the Indians answered right back and would go on to hit four three pointers including two from Kade Milleville in the first quarter to stake themselves a 17-14 lead at the end of the quarter. Altamont hit back to back baskets to open the second quarter and go up 21-14 before a Tuscola timeout paused the action. The Warriors outscored Altamont 13-11 over the next four and a half minutes to cut it to 32-27 and then back to back fouls called on the Indians allowed Tuscola to step to the line and hit four free throws on their next two possessions as the game stood 32-31 with Indians clinging to a one point lead, 32-31. With one final possession to end the half, Zaine Miller got a look at a half court shot and drew contact from two Warrior defenders but no foul was called and Altamont kept their slim 32-31 lead at halftime. Tuscola went on an 11-5 run to start the third quarter and took the lead, pushing it to 42-37. The Indians battled back quickly from that five point deficit to retake the lead right before the end of the quarter when Cooper McManaway got the rebound off a missed Tuscola three-pointer attempt and heaved a long three-quarters court outlet pass to Blake Berg who had released quickly on the play and put the layup up and in with 1.6 seconds left for a 45-44 Altamont lead heading into the fourth quarter. A layup off an inbounds play and two free throws put Tuscola back on top 48-45 and they extended that lead to 52-46 with 5:14 left to play. Just 45 seconds later, McManaway got a steal and took it all the way in for a layup to cut it to 52-48. A crazy series of events then ensued as on the next possession just about ten seconds later, McManaway got a lane to the basket and as the lights began to flicker in the gym, put up a shot that was falling in as the lights then completely went out in the gym before popping back on. After waiting for the scoreboard to come back on, the officials indicated that the basket counted and the Indians had cut the Tuscola lead to 52-50. Altamont continued to chase down Tuscola who pushed their lead to 58-53 before a basket from Milleville, two free throws from Parker Bell and two free throws from Cooper Pals had the Indians back on top 59-58 with 1:03 remaining. After being fouled elevating for a pass, Milleville hit one of two free throws with 16.1 seconds left in the game for a 60-58 Altamont lead. After Tuscola missed a three-pointer from the left wing, McManaway was fouled on the rebound and went to the free throw line with 3.2 seconds left on the clock. He made one of two free throws to put Altamont up by three, 61-58, and Tuscola got the ball to their three point line in the 3.2 seconds they had to move down the floor but they were never able to get a shot up with the Altamont defense swarming before the buzzer and the Indians held on for the 61-58 win. The Indians improve to 24-10 on the season and will play in a Sectional Championship game for the second time on four years. That game will be Friday at 7:00pm against the winner of tonight’s semifinal game between Casey-Westfield and Lawrenceville.
Altamont Scoring:
Cooper McManaway – 21 points
Kade Milleville – 14 points
Parker Bell – 9 points
Zaine Miller – 7 points
Cooper Pals – 4 points
Blake Berg – 4 points
Jacob Johnson – 2 points
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