Late steal, final stand seal Radium Springs sweep

ALBANY — Aiden Boone stole the lead. Radium Springs’ defense made sure Lee West couldn’t take it back.

Boone’s steal and basket put the Panthers ahead in the closing seconds Thursday afternoon, and Paul Sawyer’s contested shot bounced off the rim at the buzzer as Radium Springs held on for a 38-37 victory.

The finish completed a home sweep on Albany’s southside after the Lady Panthers opened with a 16-10 win.

The boys supplied the suspense, trading leads throughout a game that entered the fourth quarter tied and remained within reach until the final shot.

With two minutes left, Radium Springs’ Arelius Roberts Jr. connected from the corner to put the Panthers ahead 36-35. Sawyer answered with a basket at the 1:33 mark, giving Lee West another lead.

The Trojans stopped Radium Springs on its next possession and had the ball with an opportunity to protect their one-point advantage.

Then Boone intervened.

He stole the ball and raced to the basket, turning a promising Lee West possession into the points that decided the game.

The Trojans still had time. They called a timeout to arrange a final attempt, but Radium Springs crowded Sawyer and forced him to shoot in heavy traffic.

His shot caught the rim and stayed out.

For most of the afternoon, neither team had been able to make an advantage last.

Lee West’s Daquan Styles hit a corner 3-pointer for an early 3-2 lead. Jeremiah Jordan promptly answered from the opposite corner to put Radium Springs back in front.

Dominic Mayes kept the Trojans moving with three consecutive baskets underneath, helping Lee West reach the end of the first quarter tied at 11.

Michael Hill Jr. added a long 3-pointer early in the second quarter for a 15-13 Trojans advantage. Marquavious Jones and Delonte Thomas countered with work inside for Radium Springs, although Lee West took a 25-22 lead into halftime.

Jordan struck again in the third, hitting a 3-pointer to tie the game at 29. The quarter ended with the teams even at 33, setting up a final period in which they combined for just nine points.

The Lady Panthers had established a steadier path to their victory.

Radium Springs took an early lead, carried an 11-8 advantage into halftime and never trailed. Riggins scored seven points as the Lady Panthers limited Lee West to two points after the break.

Both programs return to action next Thursday. Radium Springs visits Merry Acres in Albany, while Lee West hosts Bainbridge Middle School. Games at both locations begin at 5 p.m.