Staff report

HARRISBURG — Hickory Ridge beat Carson’s boys basketball team 77-74 in overtime on Saturday night in the finale of the Phenom Hoops Ish Smith Hoops Showcase.

It was an exciting game for fans, well-officiated and hard-fought, as both teams made comebacks and both teams squandered chances to win. Hickory Ridge (3-4) used its quickness to prevail against a Carson team that can shoot from distance. The Cougars (6-2) swished 11 3s, but only made one during the fourth quarter and the overtime period.

“It was a good game for us to play,” Carson head coach Brian Perry said. “I thought we had it a couple of times.”

CP Perry had a terrific outing for Carson, as the sophomore put up 30 points, nine rebounds and four assists. He was good throughout. His first step is quick, and Hickory Ridge had a difficult time staying in front of him. He got to the rim — and the foul line — often. He got 12 of his points on free throws.

Jacob Mills (18 points), Drew Neve (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Jonah Drye (12 points) had their flurries.

But only four Cougars scored, and Hickory Ridge clamped down on Drye and shut him out in the second half. That was critical, as he was doing some damage in the first half with four 3-pointers.

Carson enjoyed six-point leads early, but Hickory Ridge stormed back. Hickory Ridge did a great job against Carson’s high-scoring forward Neve in the first half and held him to four points.

Drye’s fourth 3-pointer gave the Cougars a 38-37 lead at the break.

Hickory Ridge outplayed Carson in the third quarter and led by six at the end it of, but a seven-point spree by Neve, including a bomb from the left corner, erased Carson’s deficit.

Heading down the stretch, Carson trailed 63-61 when Mills made a pull-up to tie the game, followed by his three-point play for a 66-63 Carson lead.

The Bulls tied it with a 3-pointer with 5.8 seconds left.

“We had just talked about it, don’t foul and don’t give up a 3,” Coach Perry said. “And they make a 3.”

Carson still had a chance to win at the end of regulation when Neve was fouled on an inside power move with less than a second left. But he missed both free throws, and the game went to overtime.

Perry scored six in the overtime, but Hickory Ridge made another clutch 3-pointer and took the win.

Braylen Hill scored 21 points to lead the Bulls.

Carson                     23    15   14   14   8   — 74

Hickory Ridge       19      18  21     8   11   — 77

CARSON scoring — Perry 30, Mills 18, Neve 14, Drye 12.