Chapter 25: Epic Three Overtime (Part II)
During halftime, Coach Heywood tossed the tactics board aside.
"It's okay! Drummond's stats are flashy and I know Gulot has a hard time defending him alone, but I wasn't going to change that in the second half. And I ask you not to trap him. ”
"Why? And I don't know how much longer I can hold out? "Gulot couldn't figure it out.
"Listen to me! UConn's interior is strong, but he's a veritable outside team, and his real killer weapon is his outside shot. If we had played a trap-and-pack approach to defending Drummond, there would have been a shooter who had missed out, and they had a high percentage of shots in the first half. Heywood said.
"You mean to create a situation where he will fight the five of us alone?" Sun Xiaotian asked.
"That's right!"
"Then mine go to the toilet first, otherwise I will be exposed!" Gulot was still joking.
Jokes aside, when it comes to the field, Gulot must do everything to consume Drummond, and once Drummond is also defended by him, then Yale's hopes of victory will be doubled.
……
The second half begins!
The bulldogs were determined to implement the coach's tactical strategy, and in the first few rounds of Connectn, Drummond found that Drummond did not go to the bag when he got the ball, so Drummond was relieved to single Gulot.
Gulot tried to use his strong underhand power to defend Drummond and pushed him out of the three-second zone in an attempt to force him to choose a jumper. However, after the break, Drummond's strength recovered slightly, and he frequently used his agile feet to kill the inside line, and successfully hit Gulott three balls in a row.
Even so, the rest of his teammates didn't choose to wrap up Drummond. And Yale University, through its frequent running, looked for fighters and bit the score tightly.
Slowly, as Drummond's physical strength declined, his containment in the penalty area also weakened, and Sun Xiaotian and Kevin were waiting for a defensive one.
Drummond's declining physical strength also affected his defensive effectiveness, Sun Xiaotian and Kevin were like two sharp knives into the opponent's penalty area again and again, making Drummond completely lose his temper. With just over three minutes left in the game, Yale led by three points, 66-63.
However, Yale also paid the price, and that was the foul crisis of Gulot, who will be out of the court with a full foul one more time. To be on the safe side, Coach Heywood put him on the bench.
Without a center, Haywood simply didn't want a center, he replaced a point guard, let Sun Xiaotian play small forward, and Yale University played a "big and four small" lineup.
This lineup has an advantage in terms of mobility, but the protection of rebounds has become a fatal wound, and Drummond uses his height, arm span, and frequent offensive rebounds to score twice. Caused a lot of trouble for Yale University. At the same time, Kangda once again tied the score! 70 to 70!
There was only 1 minute and 20 seconds left in the game! Yale Ball!
Coach Heywood called a timeout in time and brought on Gulot, just to give it a go.
At this time, the fans at the scene broke out into a huge cheer! How they want their team to get out of the losing streak and rebuild last season's glory. Isn't the reason why they scolded the team and the coach during the losing streak because they loved the team? The love is deep, and the responsibility is urgent!
Back on the court, Sun Xiaotian holds the ball on the outside, he needs to suppress the time to play one, and he has to grab the success rate.
He passed the ball to Kevin, who came out to block Kevin, who successfully got rid of Ryan and was about to make a shot, but Lamb was in front of him. Kevin hurriedly withdrew his hand, and in an instant, he passed the ball to Sun Xiaotian at 45 degrees, and Sun Xiaotian was basically empty in front of him.
"Not good!" Lamb, who woke up, hurriedly took two steps and opened his hand to interfere with Sun Xiaotian, and just when Sun Xiaotian jumped up and was about to shoot, Kevin came out again under the cover of Gulot's free throw line.
Sun Xiaotian just made a pass in the air, and the ball went to Kevin's hand, and at this time, Ryan, who was defending him, was already blocked by Gulot.
The moment Kevin made a three-point shot, the timer also lit up!
"Huh!"
The ball makes a graceful arc and goes straight to the center of the net!
The ball is in!
73 to 70!
The fans at the scene instantly shouted a tsunami, and everyone raised their hands and cheered!
Kevin's three-point shot was also a long roar, and the long-standing resentment was swept away at this time.
--- 19 points, 6 assists and 4 steals---
It's not flashy, but it's timely. Kevin stepped up when the team needed it the most, and he played an important role from the start to the end of the game.
Things were a bit bad for Kangda, with only 45 seconds left on the game and theoretically one chance each to attack. If UConn can't score or equalize the next offense, then Yale will basically be able to seal the victory.
Pause to come back!
Lamb served the ball from the sideline, Drummond came out to catch the ball, and then handed it back to Lamb. Lamb looks like he's going to attack on his own, but attacking with the ball is not his characteristic!
Drummond came out to cover, and Lamb only moved sideways to get out of the three-point line!
The arc of the ball flight is high! With a bang, the ball hit the inside edge of the basket and flew out!
"Grab the rebound!" Heywood screamed hysterically from the sidelines.
Gulot was in a good position, he jumped high and reached out his hands to catch the ball.
Suddenly, a large hand appeared between Gulot's hands.
"What!" Gulott was shocked!
Drummond was behind Gulot, plucked the ball out with his fingers, and used his excellent continuous jumps to firmly control the ball in his hands.
But at this time, Kangda had no timeout, and there were 12 seconds left, which was enough to attack again. He handed the ball to Lamb on the outside, and quickly covered for Lamb on the top fox, Lamb broke through the defender, and just when everyone thought he was going to make a layup, he turned around and passed the ball to Drummond, who was still outside the 3-point line at the moment, and didn't have time to grab a rebound.
Drummond was stunned for a moment, but when he looked at the timer, 5, 4, 3......
Sun Xiaotian saw that something was wrong, Drummond was about to shoot! Before he could interfere, Drummond made a move!
Basketball games are sometimes so exciting!
Ball hollow into the net! And it's a whistle ball!
OTTIME!!
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The fans held their heads and suddenly fell silent, they couldn't believe it was true, although Drummond's ball was mostly lucky, and we could see from the joy of his shot. But so what? Balloons are also points!
Kang Da, who escaped the catastrophe, breathed a sigh of relief, and Yale University, which missed the perfect opportunity to win, suppressed the pent-up anger in his chest when it was about to be released.
In the first overtime between the two sides, you come and go, and each does not give in. UConnda wanted to take out Yale in one go, but Yale's excellent defense didn't give the opponent much of a chance. In this kind of grinder, both sides scored only 3 points.
There was no way, the two sides went into the second overtime!
The game has reached this point, in fact, both sides have no backhand. At this time, it is to see which team's stars can break out and take over the game.
And due to physical strength, the players on the field of the two teams are almost already playing with their legs up. It's no wonder that Yale University's Sun Xiaotian and Kevin. Marshall didn't rest for a minute, and Drummond on the other side only rested for 2 minutes.
5-5! This was the number of points scored by both sides in the second extra time.
At the same time, Gulot left the field full of fouls, and the opposing Lane's also graduated! Each side will have a general.
If the second overtime is overtime, the players on both sides are dragging their bodies to play. Then, in the third overtime, the players on both sides were just playing with their souls.
Whose soul is stronger?
Sun Xiaotian!
Although Sun Xiaotian didn't feel very good throughout the game, only 5 of 14 shots. But just when Yale University fans appeared as saviors, Sun Xiaotian's hand came.
He hit two mid-range shots to give Yale back a two-point lead over UConn with 47 seconds left in the game!
However, before Yale could catch his breath, Lamb caused Kevin's foul and two free throws when he made a jumper! What's worse is that Kevin was also sent off.
The situation is becoming more and more unfavorable for Yale, and if there is an overtime game between the two sides, Yale's chances of victory will be slim.
Lamb made two free throws in a safe two shots. There are only 25 seconds left in the game.
……
At the time of the pause, Heywood's voice was already hoarse, and he had no choice but to let Sun Xiaotian take advantage of the pause to get a short half minute of rest.
The last attack, Sun Xiaotian must grasp, this is the best opportunity. At this time, the Yale and UCont players on the bench stood up, and the fans at the scene also chanted "sun!" sun! ”
In the face of Lamb's defense, Sun Xiaotian didn't make too many skills, but used the last bit of strength in his body to stick to Lamb, trying to push him away and find even a little space to shoot.
I saw Sun Xiaotian carrying Lamb and dribbling with his right hand. Then he had an inconspicuous top man on his left shoulder, and Lamb was pushed half a metre away.
"Foul!" Lamb shouted loudly as he reached out to interfere with Sun Xiaotian.
It was this half meter that Sun Xiaotian threw the ball when his body was almost out of balance.
And so happened, the ball bounced twice on the basket and rolled in reluctantly!
---- Yale University wins! ----