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Driver gets breakaway dunk to seal win
(Beavercreek) – The #6 Pioneers (14-5, 6-1) led by at least eight points in each quarter, but had to withstand a fourth quarter rally by the #9 Cavaliers (11-6, 5-2) before pulling out a 63 to 58 victory on Friday. Clinging to a three point lead with just 14 seconds remaining, Tyler Ferguson found Brycen Driver for the game clinching breakaway slam dunk with a three-quarters court inbounds pass, leading the Pioneers into first place in the Three Rivers League with one more round of league play remaining. “We’ll see how long it lasts,” Oregon City coach Mike Doherty said of his teams league lead. “We still have five more league games. It could come down to the last week.” Driver led a balanced Pioneer squad with 16 points. 5’11 senior guard Spencer Bankofier scored a game-high 26 to lead the Cavaliers.
Oregon City came out firing and hitting on all cylinders. Tyler Ferguson nailed a three-pointer, assisted on his brother Trevor’s layup and picked up a couple rebounds in the early going as the Pioneers jumped out to a 7-0 lead. The Pioneers 2-3 zone defense was completely stifling the Cavaliers. Clackamas called timeout, but Driver stole the ensuing inbounds pass and dunked for a 9-0 lead. The Cavaliers then found the answer. Bankofier started penetrating and getting some good looks and Clackamas switched from man defense to zone, extending pressure to half court. Clackamas held Oregon City over four minutes without a field goal, closing the gap to 9-8. Trevor Ferguson hit consecutive three-pointers to break the Pioneers scoring draught and they led 15-13 after one quarter.
Oregon City’s defense came alive to start the second quarter, holding the Cavaliers without a field goal for almost four minutes. The Pioneers built up an eight point lead, but Clackamas fought back with two three-pointers from Ka’eo Jan and two pull-up jumpers from Bankofier. The Cavs trailed 27-23 at the halftime break.
The Cavaliers came out and executed better to start the second half, finding some gaps in Oregon City’s zone for easy layups. However, Oregon City kept up the intensity as six guys got into the scoring column in the quarter. When 6’3 sophomore Andy Rondema completed a three-point play with 1:32 left, Oregon City had its largest lead to that point, 42-32. Clackamas scored the last three points of the quarter to close the gap to seven at the start the fourth.
Five different players scored in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter as the Pioneers extended the lead to 53-42 with just over three minutes remaining. Clackamas would not go easily. The Cavaliers started attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line, and making free throws. On the defensive end, its full court pressure had the Pioneers flustered, and Oregon City missed some free throws. Bankofier was the most active, hitting two three-pointers, a pull-up jumper, and all seven of his free throw attempts, for a 15 point fourth quarter. Bankofier hit his last freebies with :14 seconds left, just before Driver streaked and sealed it for the Pioneers. Clackamas was 11/11 from the free throw line in the final two minutes while Oregon City made just 6/10 attempts.
“They did a good job of taking advantage of our mistakes,” Doherty said of the Cavaliers. “They’re a smart basketball team and are ready to pounce. We had a lot of needless turnovers. That is an issue for us every game.” “Definitely a good win for us,” Trevor Ferguson said. “It’s good to beat a good team like Clackamas. We just need to look forward and try to win the league title.”
Clackamas 13 10 12 23 58
Oregon City 15 12 15 21 63
Clackamas – Spencer Bankofier 26, Jan 15, McGill 6, M.R. Calhoun 5, Humble 4, Basilio 2, Nigro, M.J. Calhoun. Team Free Throws – 20/23.
Oregon City – Brycen Driver 16, Trevor Ferguson 14, Tyler Ferguson 8, Poppen 8, Meyrick 6, Paulston 5, A. Rondema 3, Rinearson 3. Team Free Throws – 16/23.
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Oregon Boys Basketball 
