
DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
Braylend Reber’s basket with 3:45 left in the game Friday night put Adams Central up 60-42 against Heritage and there was not a soul in the Hangar who would have blamed the Patriots for packing up and playing out the final minutes of a fourth consecutive loss.
Instead, coach Kyle Sovine’s team turned that three-game losing streak and turned it into a win, absolutely stunning Adams Central in one of the biggest late-game comebacks in ACAC history, winning 67-66 by somehow scoring 25 points in less than four minutes while under pressure of playing on the road.
The comeback was led by Taurean Brown, Lantae Cassel and Landon Lybarger, who combined for 22 points in that final quarter for the improbable win.

Despite a feverish comeback, the away team still had miles to go when they trailed by eleven points with just 1:01 to go, but Landon Lybarger drove into the lane and drew a foul, knocking down both free throws.


That’s when the whole sequence started.
Off the inbound pass, the Jets threw the ball into the net, allowing Taurean Brown to scoop up the basketball and lay it in with a forearm in his back. His free throw made it 64-58 with 49 seconds remaining.
Again the Patriots came with pressure, forcing Adams Central into a poor entry pass and Braden Walter stole the ball and fed Lybarger for three. His attempt was off, but Taurean Brown was fouled again and went back to the line, where he made the second to make it a five-point game with 41 to play.
Adams Central finally got the ball across half court and got to the line, but only knocked down one of two, keeping hope alive for the Patriots.

The Jets probably should have known that their luck had run out on the next play when Brown tossed up a wild three that bounced straight down and into the hands of Lucas Taylor, who put it right back up and in, drawing a foul.
Taylor’s free throw with 21 seconds left made it 65-62 and Heritage put Adams Central right back on the free throw line with pressure mounting. The strategy worked and the Jets only made the first of two shots, handing Heritage another chance to stay in the game.
The Jets played not to foul and Taylor took advantage, driving toward the bucket for an easy two with 11.5 seconds left on the clock.
Once again, the pressure by Heritage on the end line was too much, forcing Adams Central into a turnover and the Jets compounded the error by committing a foul that gave the Patriots a chance to tie the game at the free throw line.
Lantae Cassel missed the first shot short, but drained the second to draw his team within one at 66-65. Coach Kyle Sovine willed his team to a foul at midcourt, sending the Jets to the line with a chance to ice the game.

Adams Central, however, missed both opportunities at the line and Heritage gathered the rebound, driving straight down the court with Landon Lybarger drawing a foul on a jumper in the corner.
Lybarger drained both shots, nothing but net, and after a long time out, the Jets drew up a great play to give themselves a shot in the lane, but it did not fall and Heritage finished off the win of the season so far.



Brown finished the contest with 20 for the visitors, while Lybarger had 18 when it was all said and done. Cassel had 14 points and Taylor had twelve for the Patriots, who are now 8-6 and retain a shot at winning the regular season title with a 3-1 ACAC record.
Cade Van De Weg led the Jets with 16 points, while Trace Maller had 13 in the loss.
The Patriots travel to Eastside Saturday night for the second game of a weekend doubleheader, while the Jets will do the same with a long road trip at Tipton.