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Bonny Eagle pulls off a sweet victory

By MARK JEANNERET, Special to the Telegram Saturday, December 29, 2012

PORTLAND — C.J. Autry may never completely get over the anguish he felt last season, but he and his Bonny Eagle High teammates took a step in the right direction Saturday night.

Autry drilled a 3-pointer with 48 seconds remaining to give Bonny Eagle its first and only lead in a 45-44 victory against Deering in a SMAA boys´ basketball game.

"Last year was just an awful feeling," said Autry, referring to a last-shot loss to the Rams in the Western Class A final. "It was good to get a win this time. It was hard work."

Autry´s shot capped a fourth-quarter comeback by the Scots (5-1), who trailed by 10 in the opening moments of the period. Bonny Eagle was helped by Labson Abwoch, Deering´s skilled 6-foot-7 forward, fouling out with 31/2 minutes left.

"Abwoch is a great player," said Bonny Eagle Coach Phil Bourassa. "Anytime you take him off the floor, it changes the dynamic of the game and you saw that tonight."

Less than a minute later, the Scots got another break when Dominic Lauture, the Rams´ starting point guard, fouled out. Bonny Eagle capitalized with six straight to pull within 44-42.

Autry received an excellent pass from Dustin Cole, before hitting his shot from the corner.

"It was all teamwork," Autry said. "We couldn´t have done it without each other. I was kind of just hoping (Cole) wouldn´t lose it. Then he made a great play. I was nervous but I knew the shot was going in once I shot it."

The Rams were left with plenty of time, including a chance on an in-bounds play in the final seconds. As planned, the ball ended up with Thiwat Thiwat at the basket for a final shot. The ball did a full turn on the rim but spun out as time expired.

"We wanted something inside, five feet away from the basket," said Deering Coach Dan LeGage. "We got a shot five feet from the basket and it rimmed in and out.

"We had our shot. As coaches, what you try to do is put your kids in a position to win."

The first half was full of fouls -- Deering was in the bonus with 21/2 minutes left in the first quarter -- and neither team was able to create any lasting rhythm. The Rams led 14-9 after one and carried a 29-22 lead into the break.

Deering used an 8-3 run to close out the third quarter with a 37-29 advantage.

Cole paced the Scots with 18 points. Ben Malloy added 14.

Abwoch, who scored eight of his team´s first 10 points, led Deering with 14 points.