Boys Basketball: Foreman edges out rival Von Steuben behind Clarence Boyd

Updated: December 15, 2011 9:14PM

Clarence Boyd listened to his coach.

The Foreman senior guard scored 15 of his game-high 17 points in the second half and helped rally the host Hornets past rival Von Steuben 47-44 Thursday afternoon.

“My coach [Terry Head] said not to shoot threes or long jump shots and look for the drive and take it hard to the basket,” Boyd said.

Boyd’s three-point play with 48 seconds remaining gave the Hornets a 45-44 lead it never relinquished.

“We just played good defense, and forced turnovers and got out on the break,” Boyd said.

Down a point in the closing seconds, Von Steuben had a final opportunity. Demetrius Faulkner’s shot in the lane hung on the rim before falling off. Marcus Linton scored his only two points on two free throws with one second left for the game’s final margin.

Boyd’s heroics enabled the Hornets (3-0, 2-0 Red-North) to escape after they nearly squandered an eight-point second half advantage. Sophomore Karon Linton scored five first-quarter points and Dedrick Byrd nailed a three-pointer in the closing seconds of the second quarter that put the Hornets up 21-16 at the break.

Boyd’s steal and length of the floor drive for a spectacular dunk in the third quarter keyed an 11-5 Hornets’ run that extended Foreman’s advantage to 35-27 late in the third quarter.

Von Steuben (3-1, 1-1) stormed back behind the solid play of guards Faulkner and Jalen Delaney. Faulker scored eight of his nine points in the second half.

The Panthers ripped off a 15-4 run in the fourth quarter for an apparent safe lead. Delaney scored 11 of his team-best 14 points in the second half.

Delaney converted two free throws and nailed a three-pointer from the left wing for a 44-39 Von Steuben lead with 1:30 remaining. Von Steuben coach Vince Carter could not image what transpired down the stretch. The Panthers committed four turnovers and committed several costly fouls.

“I told them just let [Foreman] heave a three at that point, and instead we started fouling, and from there, we just self-destructed,” he said.

Karon Linton scored 10 points for the Hornets. Center Carl White contributed six points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

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