East Ridge Alum Alex Wells has an impressive scoring resume from high school to now in semi pro, but missing is a game-winning shot at any level.
But Sunday afternoon in a Central Basketball Association game, he did everything but hit the winner (16 points) in guiding the Chattanooga Rail Runners to a 116-113 double overtime win against visiting Bowling Green (Ky.).
With time running down in regulation, Wells ran the baseline (pass from Adams) for a lay in to tie the game at 95-95 with five seconds remaining to force overtime.
Late in the first extra period, he thrilled the home crowd again as he found nothing but nylon from deep in the corner to tie the game again at 105-105 (with a 3-pointer) with 0.3 seconds on the clock.
“He’s a shooter and I told him to keep shooting and he did and that was a big one to force a second overtime,” said Rail Runners coach Paul Gaffney.
Regulation - First Half:
The visiting Hornets led 31-24 after one quarter as Damarius Smith and DeAntra Scott had five points each for the visitors.
The Rail Runners Fred Sturdivant came alive in the second quarter with 11 points as the hosts led 52-44 at intermission.
Third Quarter: The Hornets’ used Scott’s six points to take their first lead (65-64) since early in the second quarter, but still trailed by three (74-71) as Wells and Tre Wards had six each for Chattanooga.
Fourth Quarter: In a dramatic final period, the Hornets went on an 11-0 run (Teras Smith scored seven) to lead 89-83 at the 2:56 mark.
The Rail Runners then relied on Jonathan Adams’ two buckets to pull the hosts within two (91-89, before former Brainerd stars E’Jay Ward and Sturdivant made key baskets in the final minute to stay close.
But the Hornets looked the winner as Scott had two buckets and a steal for a 95-93 with five seconds remaining.
On an inbounds play, Adams found Wells in the corner who then drove for the tying bucket.
First OT: The Hornets again looked victory in the face at 105-100, but Hampton made it 105-102 at :33 before a Hornets’ over-and-back (:24.4) set the stage for Wells next heroic shot.
Adams hit Ward with a pass who in turn got the ball to Wells who dramatically buried the trey with :0.3 to tie it at 105-105 to set the stage for another overtime.
Second OT: The Rail Runners sprinted to a 112-107 on Hampton’s 3-pointer with under four to play and used big baskets from Quincy Scales down the stretch for the win at 116-113.
Missing Point: With five seconds remaining in the second OT the officials met with the coaches to discuss the correct score as there was discussion whether the Rail Runners led by four (117-113) or by three.
One official conferred with the official scorer and it was determined it was a 3-pount lead at 116-113.
The Hornets missed a final shot and the Rail Runners had the win.
“We needed this type of game early in the season as our win today shows our character,” said Gaffney
“We stayed patient and didn’t quit even when we were down late more than once.
“Our players are learning to play together and jell together and it is more than just understanding x’s and o’s.”
Chattanooga 116, Bowling Green 113 2OT
Hornets 31-13-27-24-10-8 – 113
Rail Runners 24-28-22-21-10-11 – 116
Rail Runners (2-0), Bowling Green (0-1)
Top Scorers:
Chattanooga: Fred Sturdivant (22 pts.), E’JayWard (19), Jonathan Adams (18), Alex Wells (16)
Bowling Green: DeAmtra Scott (27), Teraes Clemmons (27)