By Brady Extin | The Times-Post
PENDLETON — When it comes to Hoosier Heritage Conference play, Pendleton Heights has had its fair share of close games.
Against Mt. Vernon, the Arabians game-winning 3 attempt hit the back of the iron in a 44-42 loss, and against New Palestine a pair of game-tying attempts from deep came up just short in a 57-54 loss.
On Friday, they had another close one, and maybe the most heartbreaking loss yet.
Against No. 7 ranked and unbeaten Greenfield-Central, the Arabians went to overtime and double overtime.
A dramatic double overtime.
Greenfield-Central’s Braylon Mullins hit an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Cougars a 74-72 victory.
Mullins scored 51 points, including 19 of his team’s 21 overtime points.
The highly sought-after 6-5 junior guard, hit 18 of his 30 field-goal attempts and made 11 of 13 free throws for his school record total. He was 4-of-11 from 3-point range.
The win guarantees the Cougars at least a share of the HHC title. They’re 6-0 in league play with one game remaining, at Class 3A No. 6 Delta on Thursday. It’s the first time since 2004 the Cougars boys basketball team has won or had a share of the conference championship.
With 28.3 seconds left, Greenfield-Central in-bounded after a timeout. The Cougars got the ball to their superstar right as time was running out. He hit the shot that ended a fantastic basketball game in front of a packed house split between Cougar and Arabian fans.
Mullins got his shot over the extended arm of Pendleton Heights’ 6-7 senior Josiah Gustin who had blocked a couple of Mullins’ shots earlier in the game.
Mullins came to the rescue all night for the Cougars.
The Arabians led 46-41 going into the final quarter. He had 29 of the team’s final 33 points, including 10 of 12 in the fourth quarter.
He scored on a layup with 15 seconds left in regulation to tie it 53-53, forcing the first extra session.
He hit a pair of free throws with 3.5 seconds in the first overtime to force the second.
With the score 72-68, Mullins scored and drew an and-one, to cut it to 72-71 with 49 seconds left.
With the loss, Pendleton Heights dropped to 2-3 in the HHC.
The Arabians hit 11 of 22 3-pointers. Seth LaRavia scored all of his team-high 22 points in the second half. He had 11 in the two extra sessions. Cooper Sims scored 19, hitting 5 of 10 from long range. Gustin had 17.
On Saturday, the Arabians fell to Hamilton Southeastern 60-49 to drop their season record to 8-10.
Evan Mozingo hit five 3-pointers to lead Pendleton Heights in scoring with 19 points. LaRavia and Sims each added 10 in the loss.
Pendleton Heights returns to conference play today, Thursday, Feb. 1, at Yorktown, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
