The Lynchburg-Clay boys basketball team hosted one of their most important basketball games of the year on Tuesday night. With a Southern Hills Athletic Conference loss already on their record, they played host to Peebles, who was still undefeated in the league standings. The Mustangs were able to, with some clutch free throw shooting in an overtime period by Zach Blankenship, defeat their opponent and even things up in the SHAC with a final score of 61-54.

The turning point of the game in regulation was the third quarter. The Mustangs had stayed ahead of their opponent the whole first half and took a 35-25 lead into the second half. Peebles came out in the third on a tear and made up all the ground between the two teams, tying the game going into the final quarter.

In the final quarter, the Mustangs and the Indians played even throughout but towards the very end, it looked like the Lynchburg team would pull it out, before Peebles hit a shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

The Lynchburg boys are undefeated this year in games sent to overtime and Tuesday night was no different. The Mustangs outscored their opponent 12-5 in the extra frame, six of those 12 coming from Zach Blankenship from the free throw line.

This makes the Mustangs now 9-1 in league play and 13-1 overall. Their next game is Friday, January 29 when they play host to the Fayettville Rockets.

Box:

LCHS – 19 16 5 9 12 – 61

PHS – 12 13 15 9 5 – 54

Lynchburg-Clay: Pierson 4(3) 2/4 – 19; Blankenship 1(1) 7/10 – 12; Giordano 5 1/2 – 11; Mullins (3) 2/2 – 11; Ahrmann 3 0/1 – 6; McLaughlin 1 – 2; Ryan 0/2 – 0. Totals: 14(7) 12/21 – 61.

Peebles: Gordley 10(1) 1/3 – 24; Arey 4(1) 1/2 – 12; Parrett 3(1) 1/3 – 10; Kremin 4 – 8. Totals: 21(3) 3/8 – 54.

Reach Robert Stegbauer at 937-393-3456 ext. 1679 or on Twitter @RStegbauer.