CFCA falls to Augusta Prep in overtime 67-62 after losing double-digit lead in regulation

History has a way of repeating itself. 

Unfortunately for the CFCA Lancers, they played right after a thrilling comeback by Furtah Prep against Sherwood Christian in the GIAA 2A boys state tournament, with Furtah Prep overcoming a double-digit deficit en route to a buzzer beater victory. 

History would repeat itself in the Lancers’ game against Augusta Prep Day School, as CFCA jumped out to an early lead but watched the Cavs chip away at the deficit in the second half before sending the game into overtime. The Cavs continued their late game surge into the extra period, eclipsing the Lancers 67-62 and ending their season.

With FPD’s gym still buzzing from the previous game, the Lancers opened the evening with energized fans. Coach Jacob Kline’s starting lineup featured two eighth graders, Zaiden Nelson and Shaheem Barbosa, sophomore Sirron Chambers, junior Judson Walls and lone senior Brayden Emory. Augusta Prep coach Samuel Gruber’s starting five featured four seniors and a junior.

Walls controlled the opening tip for CFCA, easily outjumping 6’4” Cavs forward Scott Williams. The opening tip sparked an 8-0 Lancer run highlighted by Barbosa’s 2-point floater at the top of the key followed by an and-1 foul shot. 

The Lancers extended the lead to 10-3 before Williams drained a three-pointer to pull the Cavs within four. Walls converted a layup for CFCA at the midway point of the first quarter to give the Lancers a 12-6 lead. 

Unfazed, Augusta Prep surged back, closing the score to 12-11 with two and a half minutes remaining in the quarter. The Lancers then went on 5-2 run to close the quarter with a 17-13 lead.

Augusta Prep inbounded the ball to start the second period, but the Lancers were ready. Barbosa blocked a pass attempt by Williams, but his shot bounced off the rim. Walls then secured the rebound for the Lancers and quickly passed it back to Barbosa, who scored on a turnaround jumper. 

Another turnaround shot by Barbosa extended the Lancer lead to 24-15. After another blocked pass by the Lancers, Caiden Holzmann connected with Emory, who drove into the paint and drew a shooting foul. Emory converted one of the free throws, putting the Lancers up 27-15. 

After some more shots from both teams, the game headed to halftime with CFCA leading 36-25.

The Lancers controlled the ball to start the second half, going on a run to extend their lead to 48-28. Augusta Prep countered with a seven-point run to make it 48-35 following a three pointer. The Cavs then fouled Barbosa as he drove to the basket. The eighth grader easily sank both free throws, pushing the score to 50-35 with less than two minutes remaining in the period. 

That was when the Cavs started getting back into it. Stephen Stallings’ 3-pointer for Augusta Prep with 48 seconds left in the period cut into the Cavs’ deficit, and teammate McFadgen drained another three as time expired to end the third period with the Lancers leading 50-43. 

During the break, CFCA’s cheerleaders pumped up the crowd, chanting “Let’s Go Lancers”. Augusta Prep had no cheerleaders in attendance, but their fans responded with an equally raucous “Let’s Go Cavs”.

After Augusta Prep inbounded the ball to begin the fourth quarter, senior Canye Walker drove the ball to the basket, cutting the Lancer lead to five. After some turnovers, the Cavs drained a pair of 3-pointers to take their first lead of the night and keep the crowd energized. 

Trading leads, the Cavs and Lancers battled constantly. The last minute of the period found CFCA clinging to a three-point lead, but Canye Walker drove to the rim for the Cavs, collected his own rebound and was fouled. 

Walker made one of the two free throws but, in a frantic sequence, snagged the rebound from his missed shot and made a jumper in the paint to tie the score 57-57 with seconds to go in regulation. Emory’s shot for the Lancers clanged off the rim. The Cavs collected the rebound, but Sirron Chambers blocked the shot as time expired to send the game to overtime.

As the Lancers took possession to start overtime with only four minutes guaranteed in their season, a scramble on the floor resulted in a jump ball. Augusta Prep’s McFadgen took a hard foul and connected one of the two free throws. CFCA’s Nelson then quickly passed to Emory who zipped the ball to Walls. The shriek from a whistle stopped the play as Chambers was fouled away from the play. Chambers couldn’t connect on either of the attempts, but Walls bounced the errant rebound off a Cavs player to retain possession. 

Walls then converted a long 3-pointer to regain the lead 60-58. Unfortunately, the deep shot instead sparked a rally by Augusta Prep, as the Cavs reeled off seven additional points while only allowing four, dooming the Lancers to the 67-62 loss.

CFCA finished the season 20-5. Barbosa led all scorers with 32 points, including two 3-pointers, and went six of eight from the free throw line. The Cavs had three players score double digits: McFadgen (20), Walker (13) and Harris with 10 points off the bench. Augusta Prep resumes play next Thursday at  Brewton Parker College in the semi-finals, facing Furtah Prep.