Dougherty boys notch win against rival Albany — but not without some controversy

ALBANY — They were shouting for a foul from the Indians’ bench to the top of the Albany Civic Center, but the call never came.

They’re still waiting at Albany High, still trying to understand why Jibri Jimmerson didn’t go to the free throw line as time ran out on Jimmerson, the Indians and one of the best games of the season Saturday night at the Albany Civic Center, where Albany High had to swallow a bitter loss to Dougherty, 62-60.

Albany High coach Archie Chatmon didn’t have anything to say about the final no call, which might have given the Indians a chance to send the game into overtime. Albany trailed, 62-59, when Tim Pierce went to the free throw line for two shots with 4.5 seconds left. Pierce made the first one, then Chatmon called timeout. Pierce then missed his second shot intentionally with the hope Albany would grab the rebound.

Jimmerson did.

And as he went up for the put-back, it appeared one official signaled for a foul, but the call was never made. And when Jimmerson’s shot went sour, so did the Albany High fans as the clock ran out on Albany High.

“I don’t think there was a foul on the play,” said Dougherty’s Chris Holmes, who was guarding Jimmerson. “When I boxed out, he pushed off me and he missed the shot. There wasn’t a foul.”

Chatmon has a long-standing policy of not allowing his players to talk to the media, and the Albany coach did not blame the loss on the no call. He had other ideas.

“Rebounding,” Chatmon said. “That was the difference in the game. They just out-rebounded us, especially in the first half. Our kids played hard and we competed right to the end, but we just couldn’t rebound with them.”

Dougherty was rebounding from a tough Region 1-AAA loss to Crisp County on Friday night, and Holmes said he owed his coach and his teammates a big game Saturday.

He came through all night, leading Dougherty with 19 points, including a personal six-point run that helped the Trojans build the lead to double digits in the fourth quarter.

“In the game (against Crisp on Friday) I didn’t do what I was supposed to do,” Holmes said. “And I had to show my coach that I can still be what he wants me to be.”

Super 6er McArthur Gaines usually leads Dougherty, and he had his moments, scoring 15 points and handing out five assists, but Holmes was there time and time again for a big basket along with Joshua Christian, who hit two 3s — including a huge bomb late in the game — and finished with 14 points.

The Trojans could have put the game away earlier, but Albany High came back from a 10-point deficit in the final minutes. Gaines’ free throw with 5:44 left gave Dougherty a 49-39 lead, but Albany High forced six turnovers that ignited a 13-2 run that was capped when Jimmerson hit a pair of free throws with 3:18 left to give Albany a 52-51 lead. Another turnover gave Pierce a chance to add to the lead and he hit a pair of free throws to lift Albany to a 54-51 lead, but Gaines answered with a pair of free throws and then Christian busted a long 3 for the Trojans with 1:48 left to give Dougherty a 56-54 lead.

Larry Sanford, who led Albany with 19 points, hit a free throw to close to 58-57 with 38 seconds left, but missed his second free throw, and when Albany fouled Kendal Hicks immediately, Hicks answered by hitting both free throws with 29 seconds left to give Dougherty a 60-57 edge.

Pierce, who finished with 18 points, then hit a drive with 17.8 seconds left to close to 60-59, and Albany tried to squeeze the Trojans with a full court press. But Holmes’ long throw down court found a leaping Gaines, who slapped the ball forward to a wide open Christian. Christian then dropped in the layup for a 62-59 lead. Albany had one last chance and Pierce’s drive bounced in and out, but he was fouled and went to the line with 4.5 ticks left.

Dougherty knew what Albany would try to do.

“We talked to (the players) and told them they would miss the second shot and try to get the rebound,” Dougherty coach Donald Poole said. “I thought (Jimmerson) did a good job to get to the ball. I’m just glad we won. I can’t comment on officiating. All I saw was the ball bouncing around.

“I’m glad we won. We needed that.”