Bucs fall in overtime to St. Elizabeth

Looking to start a new winning streak, the Milford High School boys' basketball team came back from a double-digit deficit at the last minute to force overtime against St. Elizabeth, but couldn't keep the rally going, losing for the third time in four games, 81-75.

Milford trailed from midway through the second quarter until the last 90 seconds of the game, when Marques Jones, in the middle of a 32-point performance, hit a three-point jumper and seven of eight consecutive free throws to put Milford up, 64-63. But the lead didn't last long; the Vikings tied it again with a foul shot. As the clock ticked down, Milford ran out time as they set up the potential game-winning shot, but with six seconds left, guard Shane Letthand was whistled for traveling while throwing a pass and the Vikings ran out the quarter to force overtime.

Letthand struck first in the extra period, putting the Bucs up 66-64, but then St. Elizabeth scored 10 more points before the Bucs managed another basket. Milford had one last rally left, as back-to-back threes from Jones and Richie McLendon made it 74-76 with 35 seconds left, but the Vikings sunk three foul shots to put the game out of reach.

Despite Jones' big day, the Vikings' defense found success by holding the rest of the Bucs in check. Colby Shorts, who scored 14, was the only other Milford player to hit double digits. They slowed down the pace of the game - the score was tied at just 11 each at the end of the first quarter - and drew fouls by the truckload. By the end of the game, both guard Shane Letthand and center Chris Long had fouled out.

But in the end, it was their own foul shots that sunk the Buccaneers, not the ones they gave up to the other team. Despite getting six free throws on technical fouls alone, the Bucs went just 12-for-21 from the foul line.

The Bucs host Nandua on Tuesday evening.