Another game, another buzzer beater, and another gut punching loss for the Greenbrier East Spartans. However, this time, it ended the Spartans season once and for all.
East suffered a 45-42 defeat at the hands of the George Washington Patriots in the Region 3, Section 2 co-final when Brendon Hoffman leaned left and hit a contested pointer at the buzzer to send GW to the state tournament.
The gym went from rocking loud to pin-drop quiet in a matter of two seconds.
It was the fourth time this season the Spartans lost on an unlikely buzzer beating shot.
The low scoring contest was extremely competitive throughout. Goose Gabbert put in seven first quarter points including a three at the buzzer to give the Spartans an 11-9 lead after one.
Bryson Brammer scored five consecutive points to give East a 20-18 lead and that started a 9-0 run fueled by Adam Seams. Seams hit a trifecta, got a steal and went coast-to-coast for a dunk, then got another steal and converted two free throws as the Spartans built a 27-18 lead.
Isaac McCallister hit a 3-pointer just before the break to cut the East lead to 27-21.
The score remained that at halftime.
Whatever Patriots Coach Rick Greene said in the locker room at that point, it resonated with his team.
After Aaron Griffith scored a rough basket inside for East, Hoffman got going. He hit two straight threes and then added two midrange jumpers. Gabbert hit a long range bomb to cut the Spartans deficit to just four points, but Hofmann answered with a three as the buzzer sounded and GW led 39-32 after three quarters. The Patriots took control in that period with an 18-5 advantage.
Griffith scored five straight points to open the fourth on assists by Seams, and Brammer tied the contest up at 40-apiece with a deep three.
Both teams would score just two points each over the next 4:30 minutes of play, but Hofmann’s shot at the end proved to be the difference.
The Patriots celebrated at half court with their regional trophy and have now ended the Spartans quest for championships in three different sports this season.
Gabbert led East with 12 points.
Hoffman got 25 for GW. He had 19 of his team’s 24 points in the second half.
The Patriots shot 7-of-9 in the third quarter including 4-of-5 from distance.
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