Elkhart Times

Second-half rally falls short in Goshen comeback bid

Two free throws by Isaac Miller with 70 seconds to go gave the Maple Leafs the lead after a ten-point second-half deficit, but Oakland City pulled through with a narrow 79-75 victory in Goshen on Tuesday night.
 
The evening got off to a delayed start after the Mighty Oaks had bus issues in Kokomo on their way to the game. The 6:00 start time was pushed back to 7:30, but then the teams got underway. They traded the first 12 points, but Oakland City took a narrow lead. It ballooned to an 11-point advantage at 29-18, but Goshen was down just six at the half.
 
The Leafs pulled within two points with 14:13 to go in the game on a basket by Judah Simfukwe. But then a 10-2 run for the Mighty Oaks gave the away team a ten-point lead. A three-pointer from Elias Ramirez shifted the momentum back toward GC, and they went on an 8-0 run of their own.
 
Oakland City maintained their lead until Drake Moore fouled while Kaden Johnson was at the line shooting free throws for the Leafs. Isaac Miller then went to the line and made both shots, putting Goshen up 75-74– their first lead of the game.
 
It didn't last long, as Tyquez Priester scored 12 seconds later, and Caleb Wright missed a shot on the other end. A last-ditch three-pointer from Ramirez in the closing seconds was off, and he could not draw a foul, leading to a four-point win for OCU.
 
The Maple Leafs only had seven turnovers the entire game – four fewer than their opponent. However, the most significant difference in the game was rebounding. Oakland City had 32, and Goshen totaled a season-low 17. Only two of those 17 rebounds were on the offensive end.
 
Kaden Johnson had 21 points for Goshen with six rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and two steals. He was the only GC player with 5+ rebounds, whereas Oakland City had four players with five or more boards. Elias Ramirez had 19 points and five assists, going 5-9 behind the arc. Judah Simfukwe scored 14 points on 7-9 shooting, and Isaac Miller had 13 points off the bench, including going 5-5 at the free-throw line.
 
The Maple Leafs now have a long stretch of five road games before returning to Ruth Gunden Gymnasium on January 11. Goshen faces Madonna in Livonia, Michigan, on Tuesday, December 20, at 7:00 pm. 

Original source can be found here.