D.H. Conley boys slip past Aycock

By Kenneth Fine
Published in Sports on February 5, 2014 1:48 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Four turnovers, two layups and a jumpshot that bounced off the iron.

And that was just the final 20 seconds.

D.H. Conley outscored Charles B. Aycock 7-2 in the last 90 seconds of regulation and escaped with a 43-41 win in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play Tuesday evening.

Had it not been for two key steals that resulted in a pair of transition baskets, the Vikings likely would have returned home in last place in the league.

Jakeel Andrews turned an errant Aycock pass into a game-tying bucket with 16 seconds remaining in the game. Maleek Gorham stole the ball on the next possession -- starting a break that he finished with a go-ahead layup -- to propel D.H. Conley to 8-8 overall and 2-6 in conference play.

"It was a good shot," Gorham said. "I had a lot of adrenaline rushing and I just didn't want to miss it."

His poise during the "chaotic" final moments of what had, to that point, been a back-and-forth contest didn't surprise Vikings head coach Rob Maloney.

"That's what you hope to have in a senior. You know, Maleek's a very confident athlete," Maloney said. "We were just lucky to have him in that spot."

Aycock nearly got lucky, too.

After watching Gorham give his team the lead with 4.5 seconds on the clock, the Golden Falcons turned it over on the ensuing inbounds play.

But D.H. Conley returned the favor, and with 1.5 seconds remaining in regulation, the Golden Falcons (7-12, 1-7) had a chance to send the game into overtime.

After a timeout, Aycock's Michael Williams, who had already posted 12 points and nine rebounds, caught a pass that nearly covered the length of the floor. He just missed what would have been a game-tying basket.

"We at least got a shot," Aycock coach Tod Morgan said. "And hey, if my kid hits it, we're all excited."

However, Morgan doesn't feel like his team is that far removed from a winning formula.

"I'm proud of them for their effort, but we just have to learn how to close out a game," Morgan said. "You know, we had a lead late and we let it get away. I just don't think we were strong enough with the ball."

Tyrique Ford added 10 points for the Falcons, who take the floor again tonight against conference foe Southern Wayne in Dudley. D.H. Conley plays host to Eastern Wayne on Friday.