Class 4A regional final at Batavia
Neuqua Valley 74, Batavia 69
Records: Neuqua Valley 29-1, Batavia 19-8.
Halftime: Batavia 45-43.
Summary: The Bulldogs are used to winning regional championship titles on their home turf and looked for title No. 16 Friday night. Neuqua Valley dominated early in the first quarter and led 26-15 after one. In spite of the slow start, the Bulldogs stayed focused and made their way back into the game. Ben Potter’s four free throws put Batavia ahead for the first time at 42-41 with 47 seconds left in the first half. The Wildcats took charge again in the third quarter and led until the last 30 seconds, when Potter hit a three-pointer and a layup to give the Bulldogs a 57-55 lead. In the last three minutes of the game, Neuqua Valley kept their composure. Dwayne Evans’ tip-in put the Wildcats ahead late in the fourth, 68-66. Batavia hit six free throws to clinch their fourth straight regional title.
Top performers: Neuqua Valley–Derek Raridon 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists; Evans 20 points, 15 rebounds, 1 block. Batavia–David Bryant 27 points, 8 rebounds; Potter 27 points.
The bonus: “We had a lot of intensity in the first half, but in the second half we weren’t guarding them close enough,” Evans said. “In the second half, we kind of corrected that and went out with a win. We kept our composure. We didn’t let the fans or any of the surroundings get us down.”
