Hawks win another thriller at the buzzer

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Joey DeFelice (5), who hit the game winning three at the buzzer in this evenings’ tournament consolation game win, here puts up a shot as Webster Christian’s Justin Chamberlain (32) tries for the block.

Showing plenty of flair for the dramatic at the buzzer for the second time this week, the host Hawks hit a three in the final second to nip Webster Christian 37-36 this evening in the consolation game of the Holley Holiday Tournament.

Joey DeFelice hit the dramatic three as the buzzer sounded capping the wild come-back for Holley which also won a thriller 42-41 at Lyndonville on Tuesday when Nick Passarell hit a long range three at the buzzer.

Holley trailed by five, 35-30 with a minute to go but a three-point play by DeFelice at the 41 second mark ignited the exciting comeback.

Holley’s Zach Vaccarelli and Webster Christian’s Justin Green then traded free throws before DeFelice drilled the last second three to complete the thrilling rally.

“The guys were very resilient,” said Holley Coach Matt Hennard. “Josh (Porter) made a great pass to Joey and he knocked it down. Our guys gave it everything they had. They never quit.”

DeFelice, who was named to the All Tournament team, finished with 12 points as Passarell, Vaccarelli and Ian Penders each added 6, Josh Porter 5 and Chris Balys 2 for the Hawks which improve to 2-5.

Matt Weiner scored a game high 22 for Webster Christian including six threes.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Chris Balys puts up a shot for the Hawks.

Ironically, DeFelcie also hit a three to open the game, which combined with a three by Porter, was enough to give Holley a narrow 6-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.

However, Weiner, who was named to the All-Tournament team, erupted for 10 points in the second quarter, including a pair of three, to rally Webster Christian into a 19-14 halftime advantage.

Holley did cut the deficit to two, 22-20, three minutes into the third period after two layups by Vaccarelli and one by Balys but three more threes by Weiner helped the Warriors maintain a 30-24 lead at the three-quarter mark.

Penders kept Holley within five in the final stanza with three free throws and a three-point play setting the stage for the dramatic last minute rally led by DeFelice whose three-point play and buzzer beating three earned the Hawks the thrilling victory.

“Defensively we played them tough,” said Hennard. “And offensively we just kept battling the whole game and kept it close.”

In the championship game, Northstar defeated Oakfield-Alabama 72-64.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Josh Porter (2) battles for a rebound with Justin Chamberlain (32) of the visiting Warriors.