Basketball is a game of momentum and the Emerald Ridge Jaguars came out of the locker room in the second half ready to reclaim it for good.
Bethel cruised to a 30-19 lead after two quarters. The lead nearly evaporated in the fourth quarter. Emerald Ridge post player Drew Livingston, who scored a team-high 17 points, recorded four consecutive field goals and a free throw, pulling the Jaguars within two points of Bethel at 30-28.
It was the closest the Jaguars would get.
Bethel closed out the final 3:33 of the third period with a 9-2 run en route to a 54-42 victory on Jan. 29. Bethel captured fourth place in the SPSL South with the victory and Emerald Ridge finished in fifth place.
Bethel head coach Jason Carrell said his team rose to the occasion after Emerald Ridge went on a 9-0 run to start off the third quarter.
"Basketball is a game of runs. Emerald Ridge had a great start to the second half. Pat Mullen (Emerald Ridge head coach) is a great coach. After they got hot we settled down and started to get some good shots. That was huge. As you move on and especially during the playoffs those kind of runs are going to happen and you have to find a way to come back."
For more on this game, check out the sports section in the Feb. 6 edition of The Herald.
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